Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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288. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he remains satisfied that urgently required road improvements and upgrades or new roads previously committed to will continue to be provided as required given the need to meet future as well as present public demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10358/21]

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.  Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), road improvements and upgrades and the construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.

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

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 Councils’ own resources supplemented by regional and local road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

The NDP provides for a gradual increase in funding for regional and local roads and there has been a significant increase in Exchequer funding particularly in the last four years – the €555 million allocated this year represents an increase of about 70% compared to 2017. Funding is not yet at the level needed for the adequate maintenance and renewal of regional and local roads and so 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 projects.

The outcome of the NDP review will determine future capital funding for regional and local roads.