Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe for a safety review of a road (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49145/17]

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. Within its capital budget, the allocation of funding to individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.

I understand from TII that a safety review of the N2 in County Monaghan, between Drumgeeny and the Castleblayney Bypass, has been completed and various measures that were identified in the review to improve safety on this section of the route have been carried out.

In light of the findings of the review, discussions have taken place between officials of TII and the road authorities concerned, Monaghan and Louth County Councils, and it has been agreed that the improvement of a 36km section of the N2 between Ardee and Castleblayney will be progressed as a major road project. Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council, with the support of TII, will, therefore, commence the establishment of a project team and the procurement of Technical Advisors to bring the scheme from inception to the preparation of CPO/EIS documentation and Business Case.

Additionally, TII has conveyed approval to Monaghan County Council to re-activate the proposed N2 Clontibret to the Border road improvement scheme.

The progression of the schemes concerned to construction stage will be subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the planning and approval processes and the availability of funding.