Written answers

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Projects Status

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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565. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the proposed upgrade of the R232 Laghey to Pettigo road route; the budget allocated to date; the nature of proposed works to be carried out as part of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47864/19]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.

My Department has agreed to provide grant support of up to €2.1m for maintenance and renewal works on the R232 Laghey to Pettigo road on a phased basis as funding allows. As of the end of October this year €152,630 from an allocation of €500,000 at the start of this year had been drawn down by Donegal County Council for this project. While the final grant amount to be drawn down in 2019 has not been finalised as yet, my Department has been liaising with the Council with a view to facilitating progress on the works. Future allocations will be decided as part of the general grant allocation process. Allocations for 2020 will be announced in January/February next year.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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566. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the N56 Bruckless to Dunkineely restoration scheme; if a budget for the scheme has been allocated; when the works will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47865/19]

Photo of Shane RossShane 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. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the improvement, upgrading, maintenance, including the distribution of funds, for individual national road projects is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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567. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a budget has been allocated for safety works at the Laghey junction, the point at which the N56 and R232 road routes converge; if such works to enhance safety at the location will be prioritised in view of road safety concerns of the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47866/19]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.

Applications for funding under the Department's Safety Improvement Scheme are invited on an annual basis for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of the conditions in relation to applications for funding and are advised that preference will be given to proposals in the cost range €2,000 to €30,000 and that proposals in higher cost ranges, (i.e. €30,000 to €200,000) may be considered if the benefit to cost ratio is promising. The schemes for inclusion in the application are decided by the local authorities. Allocations are made by the Department taking into account the terms applying to the Scheme and the available budget for the grant programme.

Local authorities have been advised that proposals for individual safety improvement schemes costing in excess of €200,000 are outside of the scope of this programme and fall to be considered under the Specific Grant Programme.

No application for safety improvement works at this junction under the regional and local roads programme has been received by my Department for 2020.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

As the junction in question is at the meeting point of a national and a regional road I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply as to whether any funding application has been received by them for works at this junction. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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568. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the details of the proposed upgrading of Fintra Bridge, Killybegs; the status of the project; the date of commencement; if a budget has been allocated to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47867/19]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' 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.

Before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific (schemes costing less than €5m) and Strategic Improvement Grants (schemes costing more than €5m) for the widening or realignment of regional and local roads. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the crisis meant this grant scheme had to be curtailed from 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.

Project Ireland 2020 does provide for the gradual build-up in funding for the regional and local road network but it will take time to reach the level required even for the basic maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason, there continues to be very limited scope for funding new or additional projects under the Specific and Strategic Grant Programmes.

Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under these Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. It is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

Regarding Fintra Bridge the Department has committed and remains committed to assisting Donegal County Council in upgrading the R263 regional road. €150,000 was allocated to this project this year and €22,264 has been drawn down to the end of October. Further monies will be made available in future years as the project progresses.

I understand that Consultant Engineers have been appointed to develop this project through the route selection and detailed appraisal stages of the design process. A public consultation was held in May 2019 and the routes have since been refined. Environmental walkover surveys are to commence on the 26 November 2019. This will provide additional information to inform the route selection process and it is anticipated that an preferred route consultation event will be held in Q1 2020. It is expected that the project will progress to Part 8 planning process and land purchase during 2020.

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