Written answers
Tuesday, 16 January 2018
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Road Projects Status
Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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1468. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the significance and importance of the proposed western distributor road, phase two, to the economic and social development of County Sligo and its urban environs; if his attention has been further drawn to the time limited agreement in place between the IDA and Sligo County Council whereby the IDA has agreed to provide €5 million towards the €15 million estimated costs, subject to his Department approving the project in 2018; his views on this road project; if it will be funded in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1918/18]
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant road authority under section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
As regards the Western Distributor Road in Sligo, I am aware of IDA's support for the project and my Department has also been facilitating the development of the project by providing grant assistance for a number of years.
In relation to the construction phase of the project, my Department made a strong case for additional funding under the Capital Plan Review and following the conclusion of the Review significant extra funding will be made available to my Department in the period to 2021. This means that I will now be in a position to provide grant assistance for the Western Distributor Road project.
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