Transport Tourism and Sport: Funding for Local or Minor Roads 27th June 2013

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he continues to have discussions with the various local authorities with a view to identifying the priorities in respect of funding for local or minor roads other than those for which the National Roads Authority has responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 27th June, 2013.
 
 
Ref No:
31400/13 Proof: 347

Answered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
Leo Varadkar

REPLY

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by State road grants paid by my Department.
 
My Department is providing over €400 million under the Regional and Local Roads Investment Programme this year.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded from these State grants continues to be a matter for the local authority.  
 
My objective is allow as much flexibility to local authorities as possible while ensuring that clear outputs are achieved for the State funding provided.