Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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248. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the list of applications being considered by his Department relative to new roads infrastructure in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; the stage each application is at in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4277/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.

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.

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

The primary focus for capital investment under the regional and local road grant programme continues to be the maintenance and renewal of the regional and local road network, targeted safety/minor schemes together with the implementation of a number of the larger regional and local road projects under the Strategic Grant category which were included in the original National Development Plan and which are now at construction stage. Some limited provision is being made in the capital budget for the appraisal of a pipeline of upgrade projects. This is intended to cover the appraisal of projects for future development, if possible.  

Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding 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.

The revised Public Spending Code requires a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for all projects with an estimated expenditure of €10 million or more. The SAR is now a key deliverable at the first decision stage in the project appraisal process. Following the completion of a SAR by Carlow County Council concerning options in relation to a potential Southern Relief Road, the Council has recently been given clearance to proceed to prepare a Preliminary Business Case.

As regards Kilkenny, there has been some engagement between Kilkenny County Council and my Department in relation to a proposed Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension. The Department advised the Council, early in 2021, of the Public Spending Code project appraisal requirements for any proposed transport scheme, including the need for the preparation of a SAR. There has not been any further contact from the Council regarding this proposed scheme.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be allocated for the N24 in County Kilkenny given that the N24 Waterford to Cahir project had been mentioned in the National Development Plan – Project Ireland 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4278/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and 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 and the necessary statutory approvals.

Approximately €600m of exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2022. The 2022 funding allocations are made having regard for the NDP, which balances investment in transport against other priorities of Government, such as housing and health over the lifetime of the Plan. It was necessary to prioritise projects for funding in a manner which seeks to achieve key outcomes in line with the NDP. Resulting from this, while a large majority of the projects under the NDP were issued a funding allocation in 2022, TII were unable to provide an allocation for the N24 Waterford to Cahir project. The delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for next year and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.

However, funding was allocated to a number of other schemes on the N24 in County Kilkenny. In this context, TII is best placed to advise on the current status of funding for these improvements.  

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.