Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 132, 158, 168, 180, 801 and 802 together.

 It is almost like Taoiseach's questions, with all of the questions being taken together.

These questions relate to the maintenance and repair of the network of national, regional and local roads. The protection of the existing investment in the Irish national, regional and local roads network is the first priority of the Department’s expenditure on roads. Exchequer-funded roads improvements, where they occur, will focus on safety works or access to industrial estates and similar facilities.

As Deputies will be aware, Ireland has an extensive road network. The network consists of approximately 98,000 km of road which represents two and a half times the EU average in terms of kilometres per head of population. We have a lot of roads for our population. Obviously, the maintenance and improvement of this extensive network of roads places a substantial financial burden on local authorities and on the Exchequer.

Given the financial position that this Government inherited from the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure over the past number of years, and there will be further reductions in the future.

From a peak in 2007, when there were grants of €363 million towards the maintenance and restoration of national, regional and local roads, this has fallen to €232 million in 2013. On the other hand, the output we are achieving for the available funding is being improved by the use of new technology and initiatives. While these are significant reductions in expenditure, it is worth noting that neither of the two main Opposition parties provided for increased roads spending in their pre-budget submissions, which they published last December, so neither can credibly call for more spending on roads this year.

Over €52 million has been allocated by the NRA to local authorities for minor realignment upgrade projects and road pavement improvement works on national roads across the country in 2013. Construction work will continue on 17 schemes this year, selected by the NRA under its work programme and a further 25 projects are being brought through the planning process.

As regards regional and local roads it is important to note that the role of Exchequer grants in this area is to supplement the local authorities' spending in this area. The contribution made by individual local authorities, which are after all the roads authorities in law, has fallen in recent years both in real and percentage terms. In 2008, local authorities contributed €406 million towards expenditure on their own regional and local roads representing 40% of total spend; this had fallen to an estimated €175 million or 32% by last year. There is considerable disparity between what individual local authorities will contribute from their own resources towards roads, with some local authorities contributing as little as 8% to the total cost of road maintenance and restoration, while others provide more than two thirds of total funding from their own funds.

It is most disingenuous for some local authorities to complain about reductions in Government grants when they have reduced their own contribution by a greater proportion or make little contribution at all. From my Department’s perspective, regional and local roads funding has been directed towards the maintenance and repair of regional and local roads, and low cost safety works. This will remain the position in coming years and, unfortunately, this will have implications for the development of new roads schemes.

Furthermore, I am aware that many local authorities have expressed a desire to have greater flexibility in the manner in which they expend their allocations. My Department is open to such suggestions provided it is done in a prudent fashion and can be clearly measured.

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