Written answers

Wednesday, 17 May 2023

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Network

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to provide a bypass of Kinsale, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23548/23]

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

The major cuts to funding for regional and local roads during the post 2008 recession resulted in the build-up of a substantial backlog of works across the country.  The estimated cost of the backlog is in excess of €5 billion. Because of the pressures on the regional and local road network, approximately 90% of available Exchequer grant assistance to local authorities for regional and local roads is being directed to maintenance and renewal works rather than for new roads or for road realignments.

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. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

My Department has not received an application from Cork County Council regarding a bypass of Kinsale.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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26. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 2 March 2023, the steps he is taking to ensure that the Innishannon bypass is added to the national roads programme. [23549/23]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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.

The current NDP was published in 2021, and the Innishannon bypass was not included in the list of new roads projects named in the Plan. As such, the advancement of the proposed scheme cannot be accommodated in the National Roads Programme at this point in time.

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