Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

State road grants totalling €447.7 million were allocated to local authorities on 14 April for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads. These grants, which supplement expenditure by local authorities from their own resources, represent a very significant investment at a time when public finances are under severe pressure. The capital budget for improvement works this year is €321.5 million. This will fund 241 separate improvement projects at various stages of planning, design and construction, as well as 1,700 km of road reconstruction and improvement under the restoration improvement programme.

My Department also finances safety works at high accident locations on the regional and local road network. Grants were allocated to local authorities in April to finance measures at 257 locations. There was no reduction in the April supplementary budget in the provision for maintenance works, and grants of €126 million were allocated to local authorities. The bulk of this, €85 million, is being invested in the restoration maintenance programme and I fully expect to see an increase in surface dressing output achieved by local authorities under this programme this year compared with 2008. Safety is a fundamental consideration in the improvement and maintenance of our road network and this high level of investment is continuing to deliver a significant road safety dividend.

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