Rationalisation

Corktina - just saw this in the paper and thought Id share it-

From the Irish Independant, Monday 26-May-2104

ROAD bosses need €100m in additional funding every year to prevent the motorway network from falling into disrepair.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) says as much as one-third of the national network – 1,800km – is in 'fair or poor' condition and needs maintenance to prevent further deterioration.

And a failure to provide the necessary funding will result in the road network becoming as badly degraded over time as our creaking water infrastructure, NRA chief executive Fred Barry told the Irish Independent.

He said it was "essential" to maintain investment to protect some 5,500km of primary road network.

"We are spending less and have been for the last number of years than is appropriate over the long-term," he said.

"We are still managing and we're not going to see potholes and roads sliding into verges, but we have about two-thirds of the network which is either good or in very good condition, with the balance poor or fair. But over time, the amount that's very good moves to good, and fair moves to poor.

"It's essential that capital maintenance and rehabilitation is carried out. There's an asset value of €30bn there, and it's important we retain that value. The models and surveys show that eventually you end up where the water network is at the moment – that's the ultimate price you pay for under-investment."

Some €300m has been provided to the NRA this year from the Department of Transport for capital projects, which includes funding ongoing operations and maintenance and to pay back the cost of building motorways under public-private partnerships.

The amount being provided has plummeted in recent years. In 2012, some €600m was allocated, which fell to €300m last year.

Dangerous roads or poor road conditions are a contributory factor in almost 4pc of all fatal and serious road collisions, the Road Safety Authority said.

However, the NRA stressed that the road network was not in a dangerous condition, but that repairs were needed to maintain high standards.

"We think we need about another €100m to deal with the long-term asset maintenance. It is clearly a lot of money, but state funding for networks in other countries the size of Ireland would be about €800m – €1bn a year," Mr Barry said.

Link - http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/motorway-network-could-be-on-road-to-ruin-unless-extra-100m-found-for-repair-work-30304359.html

The point of my post was not to argue the merits of subsidising a railway line that is not used but to point out that the road haulage business is heavily subsidised by the state.