Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures his Department is taking to allocate further funding to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils and throughout the country, given the dire state of Ireland’s minor and local road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18820/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads.

As outlined in the 2024 Regional and Local Roads programme which I released on the 15th of February this year, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network is fundamental in connecting people and places across the country.

Irelands regional and local road network spans over 96,000kms. The network requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilience. As such, €658 million was allocated to Regional and Local Road Grants in 2024, with approximately 90% of this funding being directed towards maintenance and renewal works. This represents an overall grant funding allocation increase of 5%.

Under the 2024 grants allocations, Monaghan County Council was allocated over €17 million for the maintenance and improvement of their regional and local roads network; this represents an increase of nearly €835,000 compared to their 2023 allocation. Cavan County Council was allocated over €18 million for the maintenance and improvement of their regional and local roads network; this represents an increase of nearly €630,000 compared to their 2023 allocation.

This funding will support Monaghan and Cavan County Councils in carrying out an extensive 2024 programme of maintenance and restoration works. In addition, the funding is earmarked to support various climate adaptation projects, bridge rehabilitation schemes and vital safety improvement works.

Under the National Development Plan, the Government prioritises carrying out targeted improvements to sections of the regional and local road network with €677 million earmarked over the 10-years until 2030. Road improvement projects can be proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding. All projects put forward must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and the Transport Appraisal Framework. Each project will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, keeping available resources in mind. My Department continues to work closely with all local authorities.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, in relation to the underspend within his Department (details supplied), some of this money can go to Cavan and Monaghan to help fix the road network. [18821/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Department's Capital Carryover from 2023 into 2024 is fully committed, and an underspend in 2024 is not forecast.

The network requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilient. As such, €658 million was allocated to Regional and Local Road Grants in 2024, with approximately 90% of this funding being directed towards maintenance and renewal works. This represents an overall grant funding allocation increase of 5%.

Under the 2024 grants allocations, Monaghan County Council was allocated over €17 million for the maintenance and improvement of their regional and local roads network; this represents an increase of nearly €835,000 compared to their 2023 allocation. Cavan County Council was allocated over €18 million for the maintenance and improvement of their regional and local roads network; this represents an increase of nearly €630,000 compared to their 2023 allocation.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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194. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a more in-depth plan/survey is being pursued on the local and national road network in Cavan/Monaghan to assess the condition and monies needed to fix same. [18822/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

As outlined in the 2024 Regional and Local Roads programme which I released on the 15th of February this year, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network is fundamental in connecting people and places across the country.

Irelands regional and local road network spans over 96,000kms. The network requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilience. As such, €658 million was allocated to Regional and Local Road Grants in 2024, with approximately 90% of this funding being directed towards maintenance and renewal works. This represents an overall grant funding allocation increase of 5%.

Within the budget available, grant funding is allocated on as fair and equitable a basis as possible to ensure that all eligible local authorities are in receipt of funds to maintain the network. The three most significant grants for Councils in terms of monies and in terms of maintaining the road network in a serviceable condition are Restoration Maintenance, Restoration Improvement and Discretionary Grant. The amount that each local authority receives under these three grant programmes is based on the regional and local road length in each county or city area (taken as a proportion of the total road length and multiplied by the amount available for that programme) with some account taken of traffic.

Under the National Development Plan, the Government prioritises carrying out targeted improvements to sections of the regional and local road network with €677 million earmarked over the 10-years until 2030. Road improvement projects can be proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding. All projects put forward must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and the Transport Appraisal Framework. Each project will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, keeping available resources in mind. My Department continues to work closely with all local authorities.

As well as providing grant support to local authorities, my Department has supported the development of a Road Asset Management System for regional and local roads. The Road Management Office, which has been established as a shared service between 31 local authorities, together with my Department, has been working with local authorities to ensure that this road pavement management system includes a record of all pavement-related works and information on road surfaces and pavement condition.

The objective of the MapRoad pavement management system is to provide the data needed for evidence-based prioritisation and management of road work programmes by each road authority.

My Department has also produced a Pavement Survey Standard for regional and local roads for use in respect of road pavement management by local authorities. This standard requires local authorities to carry out a Pavement Survey Condition Index (PSCI) visual survey on regional, local primary and local secondary roads every two years and every five years for local tertiary roads. The next regional roads survey is to be carried out this year.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that from the funding pot this year of €18.1millon for Cavan, only 13km of road in the Ballyjamesduff municipal district, which has 1,000km of road, will be resurfaced due to lack of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18823/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments.

On 15th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €658 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an increase of €32 million over the 2023 allocations, with each local authority receiving an increase in funding for their Restoration Improvement grant.

Cavan County Council received a total allocation of €18,140,310 for the maintenance and improvement of their regional and local roads network; this represents an increase of nearly €630,000 compared to their 2023 allocation.

The Department's grant funding for the maintenance of regional and local roads is allocated to local authorities on a pro-rata basis, determined mainly by the length of the regional and local road network in a local authority functional area. Decisions regarding allocations to individual Municipal Districts are a matter for each local authority, taking into account the funding available to it from local and State sources as well as its particular priorities.