Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

While the overall amount allocated for local and regional roads was reduced last year, I maintained the level of grant aid to local authorities in the specific area of road safety. Despite the more straitened financial circumstances, about which we will hear later, I hope to be able to maintain the amount provided for accident blackspots, etc., in this year's allocation. The allocation is based on accident data and the inspection of sites and locations that have been shown to be hazardous. The Department will consult the local authorities and National Roads Authority to try to ensure the allocation is spent in the most effective manner possible.

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