Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocation for the capital development of national roads for each of the past five years; the reason planning has ceased on a number of urgently needed national roads in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11777/22]

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.

Approximately €615 million 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 a small number of projects. The delivery programme for these projects will be kept under review for next year and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.

The table below sets out the exchequer allocations made to TII for new capital projects in the past 5 years.

Allocations to TII for last 5 years for new projects

Regarding the progression of certain projects in the NDP, 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.