Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20039/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport I have policy and funding responsibility for 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 and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  I understand from TII that:

- the default position, under TII’s design standards, is to construct a cycleway on all new Type 2 and Type 3 single and dual carriageway roads. Cycle facilities are not appropriate for motorways (Type 1 D/C); 

- the N71 road cross section is single carriageway, with no hard shoulders.  There are no plans to widen or upgrade the N71 from Dinis towards Torc Waterfall Carpark, Killarney. There are significant obstacles to undertaking any works in this vicinity, given the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the National Park. 

However, I would encourage all local authorities, including Kerry County Council, to investigate all options for providing improved cycle facilities in their areas.

I shall refer the Deputy’s question to TII for further consideration and will request that TII contact the Deputy directly with any additional information.