Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am responding to the Deputy on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I thank Deputy Coveney for giving me an opportunity to address this issue in the House. 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 such roads are funded from the resources of local authorities, supplemented by State road grants paid by the Department of Transport. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

On 22 February last, the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, announced the regional and local road grant allocations for 2010. A total of €411.409 million is being provided to local authorities this year for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads. In deciding on allocations for this year, the first priority was to ensure the protection of the existing road network, particularly the massive Exchequer investment of €6 billion which this Government has made through the provision of regional and local road grants since 1997. It is important that resources are targeted to address on a priority basis the most urgently required repairs resulting from the extensive damage caused by the prolonged severe weather. Local authorities should carefully reassess their planned road programmes for 2010 with regard to these priorities.

In August 2009, Cork County Council submitted a proposal for funding the land acquisition and construction of this project in 2010 and beyond. The estimated cost of this project is approximately €18.5 million. The Minister recently wrote to Cork County Council on this matter. He is awaiting its response.

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