Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

55. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of investment in major road infrastructure in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15539/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Responsibility of TII and the Department

Firstly, I would like to explain that, once funding arrangements have been put in place through my Department, under the Roads Act 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.

Overall, TII is responsible for the delivery of the National Roads Programme in accordance with Project Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan (NDP).

In that context, TII provides my Department with regular updates on its delivery of the National Roads Programme. The following information is the most up to-date information available to me on TII’s delivery of projects in Cavan and Monaghan.

Background

Within the overall context of Project Ireland 2040, the NDP was developed to underpin the successful implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF).  This provides the strategic and financial framework for the National Roads Programme for the period from 2018 to 2027. The focus of TII's activities is, accordingly, being directed towards the development of the major national road improvement schemes that are included in the NDP, along with the maintenance of the existing national road network.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward the review of the NDP from 2022 and to use the review to set out an updated NDP for the period out to 2030. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework (NPF) and Project Ireland 2040.  Work is underway within my Department to contribute to this review.

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that all projects, including those listed in the NDP or any revision to the NDP, require statutory approval and compliance with the Public Spending Code.

The three projects outlined below have been subject to pre-appraisal in compliance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and Common Appraisal Framework. Following my Department’s Strategic Research and Analysis Division’s confirmation that the Project Appraisal Proposals comply with the Public Spending Code and the Common Appraisal Framework, the schemes have been included in a portfolio of projects to be progressed to Phases 1 to 4 of Planning and Design.

N3 Virginia Bypass

The N3 Virginia Bypass is a 13km improvement scheme extending from the end of the existing N3 dual carriageway at the Cavan/Meath border to Lisgrey north of Virginia Town.

Current Status

Technical Advisors have been appointed to progress planning and design of the scheme and Phase 1 Concept and Feasibility was completed in Q4, 2019, and Phase 2 Option Selection commenced in Q1, 2020.  The public consultation on the scheme commenced on 11 November 2020 and concluded on 15 January 2021. It is anticipated that the Emerging Preferred option will be established in Q3 2021. TII allocated €1 million to the project in 2021.

Benefits

- Support economic growth by increasing network capacity and reducing travel times between Dublin and the North-West;

- Improved road safety by reducing frequency and severity of collisions;

- Environmental improvements in noise, air and water quality for Virginia Town and Lough Ramor, which is a proposed Natural Heritage Area; and,

- Improved access to the National road network for the towns of Ballyjamesduff and Bailieborough.

N2 Ardee to south of Castleblayney and N2 Clontibret to the Border

The N2 Ardee to south of Castleblayney scheme is a circa 32km improvement scheme located on a Trans-European Comprehensive Network (TEN-T) route. The N2 Clontibret to the Border project is a circa 28km improvement scheme, also located on the same TEN-T route.

Current Status

Technical Service providers have been appointed to progress planning and design of both schemes. Currently the schemes are at the Option Selection stage and three Public Consultations have been carried out between June 2019 and October 2020. The Preferred Route Corridors and Option Selection Reports were published on 9^thFebruary 2021 and the Gate Review Statements requesting approval from TII to go to design and environmental evaluation for the two projects were submitted in February 2021. TII confirmed approval for both projects to proceed to phase 3 of the Project Management Guidelines. TII allocated €1.3 million to the N2 Ardee to south of Castleblayney project and €1.2 million to the Clontibret to the Border project for 2021.

Benefits of both projects

- Improved Road Safety;

- Enhanced access between Dublin and the North-West region;

- Reduced travel costs;

- Encourage economic activity; and

- Improve road based public transport.

Timing and Funding of projects

The progression of these three schemes is dependent on funding availability.

The timeframe for delivery of any major or minor works/projects that require statutory approval, whether for Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) or Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), or both, is between 8 to 13 years.

The current estimate for the projects proceeding to construction, providing they gain the required statutory approvals, is:

- 2029 – N3 Virginia Bypass;

- 2025 – N2 Ardee to Castleblayney;

- 2028 – N2 Clontibret to the Border.

As the projects are in the early stage of planning, it is not yet possible to provide an accurate estimate of the total cost. The estimated cost cannot be finalised until a project reaches the Business Case Stage of the process.