Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
294. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the introduction of a multi-annual funding model to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for large-scale road infrastructure projects such as the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway and the N72 Mallow relief road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35474/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Transport Infrastructure Ireland as set out in the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015.
The key element of TII’s funding structure for National Roads is the provision of Exchequer grants by the Minister toward both TII's current and capital expenditure as set out in section 24 of the Act. Capital expenditure grants are provided from my Department’s National Development Plan allocations.
The National Development Plan sets out a detailed list of National Road projects. Those projects are subject to further approvals and prioritisation in accordance with relevant commitments, policies and strategies.
Section 19(2) of the Roads Act, 1993 requires that TII to work closely with the relevant road authority. Therefore, upon receipt of its overall allocation, TII in turn provides allocations to the local authorities in their role as the relevant road authority.
In terms of the Infrastructure Guidelines, TII is the ‘Approving Authority’ and the local authority is the designated ‘Sponsoring Agency’. As part of their role as ‘Approving Authority’, TII monitors project delivery programmes and expenditures during the year in question, in order to maximise delivery and spend across the programme.
Once funding is put in place as part of the annual budget process, Exchequer funding is drawn down by TII through the submission of invoices to the Department of Transport on a regular basis. Robust procedures are in place to ensure that expenditure can be attributed to individual projects and there are regular meetings between the Department and TII in relation to the roads programme throughout the year.
