Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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311. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the expected timeline for completion of the inner relief road Thurles, County Tipperary linking Slievenamon Road to the Mill Road; if funding is in place for same; if a route been finalised; and if all land required has been secured. [50386/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. 

Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Strategic Grant Programme are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework.

Tipperary County Council must submit an appropriate project appraisal with updated scheme costs in order for the Thurles Inner Relief Road to be considered for funding. To date such an appraisal has not been submitted by Tipperary County Council in relation to a Thurles Inner Relief Road.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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312. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the commitments that were given to deliver a bypass of Castlemartyr and Killeagh following discussions on infrastructural projects relating to the constituency of Cork East in respect of the N25 road; the timeline that was given for the delivery of this project; the amount of funding that was committed; and if the National Development Plan is to be amended to deliver this project. [50398/21]

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 Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.

In the new NDP, launched on 4^thOctober, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects to 2030. This funding will enable improved connectivity across the country as well as compact growth, which are core components of the revised NDP. The funding will enable the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects which are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of many others.

In relation to the projects listed in the NDP that are not at or close to construction, they are subject to further approvals in advance of a decision to construct. When evaluating the progression of these projects and in order to deliver on strategic objectives, a prioritisation exercise will be undertaken which will be in line with the 2:1 Programme for Government commitment on new public transport and new roads, the "NIFTI" framework, the National Planning Framework and the requirements of the Climate Action Plan. It will also take account of available funding levels in any given year, as well as a focus, where appropriate, on town bypasses which facilitate compact growth.

The  proposed N25 projects in Killeagh and Castlemartyr are not listed in the NDP, though of course the NDP is not an exhaustive list of all projects that may proceed. A Strategic Assessment Report is expected to commence in the coming year with respect to a bypass of the two villages, to identify options prior to a decision on next steps under the Public Spending Code.

The latest information on the status of the proposed relief roads are available from TII. Noting this, I have referred your query to TII for a direct reply on the current project status. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.