Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport received the referenced correspondence from Monaghan County Council on 1 February 2024. The issues raised in the letter are currently under consideration and a reply to the Council will issue in due course.

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. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of these projects.

I can confirm that €600,000 was allocated for the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney scheme in 2023 in order to meet project commitments. The N2 Clontibret to the Border scheme was selected to receive EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding, and matching funding of €2.5 million was allocated in 2023. The allocations for 2024 are expected to be announced in the near future.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply updating you as to the latest status of these projects. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

With regard to the North South Interconnnector, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has been tasked with managing the central purchase of salt stocks for national, regional and local roads. The upfront cost related to the purchase and stocking of salt for national roads is funded from TII’s grant allocation while the cost for regional and local roads is funded from the Department’s Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme budget. In the case of regional and local roads, a charge for salt used over the previous winter by individual local authorities is deducted from Councils’ Discretionary Grant in the following year.

While it is open to local authorities to purchase salt independently for regional and local roads, most local authorities draw on the central facility.

TII looks after the management of the central salt stocks for national, regional and local roads with the Department approving salt purchases for regional and local roads. The amount of salt used each year varies depending on the weather and each winter season assessments have to be made in relation to the amount and timing of salt purchases, taking into account usage, stock balances and storage capacity. In this context TII monitors stock drawdowns closely with a view to ensuring that sufficient stocks are in place to meet demand from local authorities.

As regards the gritting of regional and local roads, it is a matter for each Council to determine its winter road treatment programme including the prioritisation of routes for salting/gritting.

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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.