What's next for NDP2? There are winners and losers from the capital spending cuts earlier this year but there are still projects there, writes Irish Construction Industry Magazine editor, Colin Leopold. In between Supplementary Budget cuts and the setting up of NAMA, it feels somehow incongruous to talk about a National Development ‘Plan’.

ROAD RAIL NETWORK The backbone of road and rail infrastructure in Ireland to 2013 consists of Transport 21, a central part of the National Development Plan. With only one project taking off the ground in 2009, most of the road infrastructure funding is being channelled through to repair, maintenance and improvements (RMI). Indeed, the announced allocation for funding in 2009 consists of a total of 2.1 billion, of which €1.7 billion was earmarked for RMI (€1,137 million for national roads plus over €600 million in local and regional roads). Furthermore the government announced it had secured close to €2 billion in private investment on the National Roads Programme. With regards to rail, funding will be an issue in the short term especially on some Luas lines. However the government has committed itself to deploying Metro North (linking Dublin’s city centre to Swords via the airport), key Luas extensions and Iarnród Éireann’s resignalling project. All in all, this sector does provide some opportunities but they mostly remain confined to the capital city for new build (likely projects to go ahead in Dublin valued at over €9 billion). For more information on upcoming projects, click here >>

Roads: Atlantic Route Corridor Due for completion in 2015, it includes the N15, N17, N18, N20 and N25 from Letterkenny to Waterford via Sligo, Tuam, Ennis, Limerick, Mallow and Cork. Already, a total of 28 km of improvements have opened to traffic. Rail: Metro North The €3.7 billion project was due to commence in Autumn 2009, with a completion date of 2013. The new 18 km heavy rail line to run from St Stephen's Green via Dublin Airport to Belinstown (north of Swords) using underground, surface and elevated tracks.

£400m private road planned for NI		€500m Navan route confirmed
Three planning applications have been lodged for a £400 million private road, 2,000 dwellings and a local neighbourhood centre in Northern Ireland. The scheme consists of a ‘crucial’ Ballyclare Relief Road, a new 3km road linking between Doagh Road and Rashee Road and includes the construction of a bridge over the Six Mile Water.		Irish Rail is to proceed with the necessary planning permission for the second phase of the Navan Rail line following the selection of the preferred route. The preferred option for its €500m second phase has been confirmed.

A number of seaport and airport projects were put on hold in 2009 due to a fall in exports (especially affecting seaports ) and tourism (especially affecting airports). Indeed, due to recent budgetary constraints, grant aid earmarked under Transport 21 for 2009 will focus primarily on projects to which air/seaport authorities are already contractually committed. That means projects, such as Kerry Airport’s €13 million plan to extend its terminal, are being put on hold. Geographically, Dublin remains the main focus of projects coming down the line, with the notable exception of Galway Harbour’s relocation plans. Yet a number of projects are still going ahead, albeit at a less capital-intensive rate. The reason for the slowdown in activity also has a lot to do with timing - large projects have either been completed (such as Cork’s new airport terminal) or most contracts have been allocated (i.e. Dublin’s airport extension plans are at a well advanced stage) . In addition, some ports have recently completed major refurbishments, such as the Port of Waterford, which doesn’t plan to proceed with any new major developments in the coming years . For more information on upcoming projects, click here >>

Airports: Dublin Airport (<€800 million, 2010-2014) - At the time the CMG Business Information Report went to print, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) was finalising its 2010-2014 capital programme, which will allocate the funds relating to the second phase of the Transforming Dublin Airport Programme. Seaports: Bremore Ireland Port (€300 million , 2002-2013) - In 2002, the Drogheda Port Company began the development on a deepwater port, logistics centre and business park away from the existing congested hub of Dublin city.

€8.5m Sligo Airport works granted		€3.2m for harbour works
Sligo County Council has granted planning permission for a €8.5m 285-metre runway re-configuration project at Sligo Airport. The plans involve the reclamation of 5 ha of land on Dorrins Strand in Sligo Harbour for the development of a platform extension.		Some €3.2m has been allocated by the Government for work on the state’s regional harbours this year. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey made the announcement at the opening of the new €1m refurbished West Pier at Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour.