Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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1132. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has been furnished with the preliminary report on the route and design of the proposed M20 Cork to Limerick motorway. [36710/18]

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 operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. 

With regard to reporting requirements I would like to explain that, in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code (PSC) and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF), two sets of approvals are required in relation to projects such as the M20 Cork to Limerick motorway - approval of the Business Case and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) for the project and separately, approval by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) of an application for development consent. Neither of these milestones have yet been reached in respect of this project.

TII has advised me that Technical Advisors for the project are currently being procured by Limerick City and County Council.  As a consequence the planning and design of the Scheme are due to commence in 2019.  This process will include a number of project stages including an examination of project concept and feasibility, options selection and design and environmental evaluation.