---

Regional Transport Strategy

Answer

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question.Letter from Malcolm McKibbin, dated 5 December 2005:"You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding what assessment he has made of the impact of the reduced funding to the Department for Regional Development Roads Service on the completion of Northern Ireland's Regional Transport Strategy.""I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.""In terms of the capital budget, I can advise that by the mid-way point on the Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) ten-year strategy period i.e. in 2006–7, investment on strategic improvements, local transport and safety measures, minor network development schemes, bridge strengthening, street lighting, etc. will have reached approximately 50% of the total envisaged in the RTS. Thus I can reassure you that the overall capital investment in the road network is in line with the increased level of investment that the RTS proposed for initiatives to address the bottlenecks and upgrade the key transport corridors in the network. Indeed, the investment plans outlined in the Draft Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) embodies proposals which would take capital spending to levels beyond those of the RTS.""From the maintenance point of view, while average expenditure increased substantially following approval of the RTS, the scope to allocate resources is constrained by the amounts that can be made available from new sources or by reallocating funds from other areas. In order to help create scope to release resources for other priorities, including Health and Education, Ministers have agreed to reduce the amounts in the Draft Budget allocations from those previously allocated for roads. This will result in maintenance levels, which, although above those prior to the RTS, will be short of the total levels envisaged by the RTS. Nevertheless, it is important to note that in the last three years (2003/04–2005/06), over £220 million has been allocated to this structural maintenance of roads and when assessing maintenance investment it is important to consider this figure over the full cycle.""I assure you that Roads Service will continue to make the best use of resources available taking proper account of both safety issues and the need to achieve value for money.""I hope this information is helpful."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

440 c1079-80W;440 c1079-80W; 33234

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Capital investment Finance Expenditure Roads Repairs and maintenance Roads Service

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk