Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Deputies Stanley and Catherine Murphy mentioned the roads funding. As stated motor tax and an Exchequer contribution are paid into the local government fund. The fund in the main funds the general purpose needs of local government through the general purpose grant allocations I make to individual local authorities. I also make an allocation to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to fund non-national roads. The amendment will now allow the Minister to expend the allocation on all roads and not just local roads or non-national roads and on public transport infrastructure generally. I remind the Deputy that the NRA is already administering the funds on behalf of the Department to the local authorities. The Deputies may not have known that.

See this speech in context