Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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118. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the progression of phase 1 of the Limerick northern distributor road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3864/21]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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121. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the progression of phase 2 of the Limerick northern distributor road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3886/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 121 together.

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. State grants, where applicable, are intended to supplement the funding allocated to the maintenance and improvement of roads by local authorities from their own resources.

The National Development Plan (NDP) does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but funding is not yet at the level needed for the adequate maintenance and renewal of regional and local roads. For this reason the primary focus for capital investment continues to be the maintenance and renewal of the network with some limited investment in road improvement schemes.

Provision was made in the NDP for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road (CKDR) subject to necessary approvals. Even though the CKDR was submitted and approved by An Bord Pleanála as a stand alone scheme, I am aware that the scheme is sometimes referred to as Phase 1 of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road and that the Deputy's Question may, therefore, relate to the CKDR. The current position in relation to the CKDR is that I am continuing to consider the recommendation from Limerick County Council regarding the award of the main construction contract for the scheme.

As regards the Limerick Northern Distributor Road itself, under the NDP there is no Exchequer regional and local road grant funding in place to progress the scheme through the planning process to construction stage.