Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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286.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a record of all specific grant applications from Kerry County Council to his Department for any works in respect of a bridge in Kerry (details supplied) in the past five years; to provide a record of all funding granted in that period in respect of the bridge; to provide a record of all funding drawn down in respect of the bridge; to provide the most recent correspondence between his Department and Kerry County Council; the precise stage the project is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35421/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments.

Any new road projects that seek funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. Kerry County Council have a number of new roads projects in construction and planning. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and the 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.

In this regard, it is my understanding that Kerry County Council are currently examining options for Listry Bridge, considering the needs and objectives, and deciding how best to progress to ensure value for money within existing budgets.

Please see below table with the requested records of funds.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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287.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is no funding available for the N70 road from Sneem to Blackwater Bridge (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35424/24]

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 operation and management 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.

In the new National Development Plan launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion is earmarked for new national road projects to 2030. 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 is a constraint on the funding available for new projects this year – however many national road projects will continue to be progressed in 2024.

The N70 Blackwater Bridge to Sneem project did not receive an allocation in 2024, however, the delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for funding in future years and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.