David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the criteria used by his Department to consider the reclassification of roads to national road status; the roads that have been considered for and granted or refused reclassification to national road status for the period 2015 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1069/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The classification of roads as either a national road or a regional road is the responsibility of the Minister under section 10 of the Roads Act, 1993, as amended.  A public road, other than one classified by the Minister as a national road or a regional road, is a local road.

The 1993 legislation also provides that where a public road which has been classified as a national or regional road has been realigned or bypassed the section of the pre-existing road which remains following the realignment or bypass becomes a local road unless reclassified by the Minister.

Roads classified as National Primary or National Secondary are funded by the State and construction, improvement and maintenance works are overseen by TII, in conjunction with the relevant local authority, and funded mainly from voted monies.  Roads classified as Regional or Local roads fall under the responsibility of local authorities. The construction, repair and maintenance of these roads is funded by local authorities’ own resources supplemented by State grants.

Requests to classify a road as a national road or regional road are considered, in consultation with TII as appropriate.  Criteria for consideration are numerous and include items such as function of road including access to towns and Cities, ports and airports, geographical regions, population centres and tourist regions.  It also includes considerations of continuity of classification throughout the length of road, whether roads are feeder connections or links to the National road network, cross section, alignment and structural integrity as well as amount of heavy commercial vehicles.

In the period 2015 to 2020, requests have been received in relation to the reclassification of the following roads as national roads:

No decision has been taken to reclassify any of these roads as a national road to date. Further consideration may be given to the issue as part of a future general review of road classifications.

An extension to the N19 in the vicinity of Shannon Airport was classified as a national primary route in 2016. 

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of road that has been allocated to roads in County Monaghan in each of the years 2010 to 2020; the proposed allocations for 2021 for each category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1092/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer 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 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.This is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code Guidelines and necessary statutory approvals.  

In this context, TII is best placed to advise on County Monaghan national road funding allocations from 2010 to 2020 and the envisaged allocation for 2021. 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.

Details of the regional and local road funding allocations to local authorities from 2010 to 2020 are outlined in the regional and local road grant allocation booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.  Details of end of year grant payments are included in regional and local road grant payments booklets lodged in the Oireachtas library each year and the 2020 payment booklet will be lodged shortly. Allocations for 2021 have yet to be decided.