James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a detailed update on a road project (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43093/23]

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, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.

The N25 Midleton to Youghal scheme, which includes bypasses of the villages of Castlemartyr and Killeagh, was not listed in the NDP; however, an allocation of €100,000 was made available in 2022 to Cork County Council to allow for the development of a Strategic Assessment Report as then required by the Public Spending Code. That Strategic Assessment Report was submitted to my Department in January 2023 and a further allocation of €800,000 was provided by my Department in 2023 to ensure continued progression of the scheme this year. By the end of the year it is expected the scheme will have completed the next phase of its development through the finalisation of a feasibility report while Cork County Council are also seeking to have a new technical advisor in place by year end to assist with the scheme’s subsequent phases.

Eamon 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.

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 Transport 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.

Following the completion of a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) by Carlow County Council concerning options in relation to a potential Southern Relief Road, the Council was given clearance to proceed to prepare a Preliminary Business Case and the Council is in the process of progressing this.