Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the M3 motorway was not constructed as far as Cavan town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49144/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

My understanding is that the background to the M3 Scheme lies in the National Road Authority National Road Needs Study 1998. This study reviewed future road investment needs and concluded that a dual carriageway type road was required to cater for anticipated traffic flows between Clonee and Kells. That Study also concluded that a dual carriageway standard road was not indicated for the section of the route north of Kells.