Written answers
Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Road Projects
Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will explain the rationale and reasoning behind issuing a section 24 letter to the TII as part of the roads allocations to County Cork for 2023, which effectively overruled TII’s proposal to fund the Mallow Relief Road to the amount of €1.4 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19406/23]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has earmarked €5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country as well as compact growth, which are key National Strategic Outcomes. The funding will provide for 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 a number of others.
As the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, this means that there was a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year. As a result of this, a prioritisation exercise was necessary. In line with the NDP and Government policy, national road funding for 2023 was allocated in a manner which seeks to achieve the following key outcomes:
- Protection and renewal of the existing national road network;
- Progressing major projects in or near construction;
- Progressing major projects which are pre-construction but well advanced in the development pipeline; and
- Prioritising any remaining funds for major projects which provide for local bypasses and Compact Growth in Ireland’s towns and villages.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for an update as to progress on this particular project. Please advise my private office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
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