Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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127. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when plans will be advanced to provide an orbital outer route beyond the M50 with a view to easing traffic congestion and reducing travel times for commuters and the business sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38012/18]

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

However, I can explain that there was a study prepared on a Leinster outer orbital route back in 2009, which is a route connecting the national routes through the Leinster area.  However, the scheme has not progressed past the early study stage.  I understand from TII that there are no current plans to progress it further at this point in time.  

While the concept of an outer orbital route has not progressed, I would like, however, to advise you that in relation to traffic congestion, the M50 Traffic Flow Optimisation project is currently underway.  This project will implement a Variable Speed Limit regime on the M50 Dublin Ring Road to improve its operational efficiency by smoothing traffic flow, improving journey time reliability and reducing the number of secondary traffic collisions. This will be achieved through the setting of mandatory speed limits.  One of the expected benefits of these new measures shall be a reduction in the impact of congestion and the level of disruption resulting from incidents on the M50 while enhancing journey time reliability.   

In conjunction with TII, officials in my Department are currently working on arrangements to put this project in place.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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128. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he will prioritise upgrading of existing bridges or replacement as required at the various traffic bottlenecks throughout the greater Dublin area; if such bottlenecks have been identified; if plans including costs have been drawn up for their replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38013/18]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the recently announced proposals for bridge enhancement and traffic diversion in Celbridge, County Kildare, are costly, ineffective and unacceptable in view of the fact that they represents an interim measure which will exacerbate the traffic problems (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38014/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.

I would like to explain that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.  

As regards funding, roadworks on regional and local roads are funded from each local authority's own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. Arising from the arrangements in place in relation to Local Property Tax receipts, the four Dublin Councils are largely self-funding for works on regional and local roads since 2015 and my Department no longer provides grants to these Councils under the main regional and localroad grant categories.

The National Transport Authority's (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area provides the overarching framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services for Dublin over the next two decades. Addressing urban congestion on both the strategic road network and locally in certain locations is an important theme in the Strategy. The measures proposed are linked to an analysis of current and projected levels of travel demand across the region.

The recently announced proposals for bridge enhancement and traffic diversion in Celbridge is also an NTA project, and driven by them.

In light of this I have also forwarded the Deputy's requests for information to the NTA for direct reply.