Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

413. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to put a road by-pass of Thurles on the national development plan by this Government. [20837/22]

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

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.

Approximately €600m of exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2022. The 2022 funding allocations were made having regard for the revised 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. The Thurles Bypass is not included in the list of projects to be progressed under the revised NDP which was launched in October 2021.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

414. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the construction of the Shannon crossing at Ballina/Killaloe will commence. [20838/22]

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

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. 

The Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and the R494 improvement scheme is one of the limited number of strategic regional and local road improvement schemes being undertaken under the National Development Plan. Clare County Council is the contracting authority for the scheme.

Ministerial approval to award the public works contract for the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and the R494 improvement scheme was given in December 2021 and following the conclusion of the due diligence process Clare County Council issued the Letter of Acceptance to the successful tenderer in February 2022 with an expected start date in March 2022.

As the Deputy is aware the construction industry is currently experiencing significant inflationary pressures and supply chain constraints. These factors have implications for progress on construction projects, including the Shannon Crossing/Killaloe Bypass/R494 upgrade scheme, while the industry takes stock of the options available to them and the consequences of any decisions taken.  In this context the scheme Project Team are actively engaged with the contractor regarding the issues affecting the commencement of the scheme.

As regards the overall position regarding the impact of construction inflation on public works contracts, as the Deputy will be aware, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which operates as an office of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, is responsible for implementing national policy on public procurement, particularly in relation to construction procurement. I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure is considering options at present with regard to the impact of construction inflation on public works contracts.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

415. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is funding being provided by his Department for the Thurles inner relief road. [20839/22]

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

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 my Department's Regional and Local Road Grant Programme continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network with some limited investment in road improvement projects. 

€30,000 has been allocated to the Thurles Inner Relief Road scheme in 2022 to allow Tipperary County Council to appoint consultants to progress the detailed design of the scheme.