Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 1004: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reverse the decision to abolish local improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41405/11]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 1005: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider a scheme for pothole repairs for roads affected by the decision to abolish local improvements schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41406/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 and 1005 together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to fund primarily from its own resources but supplemented by State road grants.

Funding under the Local Improvements Scheme was provided for non-public roads but the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. In view of the current difficult financial circumstances and the consequential reduction in Exchequer funding, priority must go to maintaining public roads. Therefore, the decision was taken to suspend this scheme.