Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to Deputy Scanlon for raising this matter. The news is encouraging. The maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant road authority under section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

While the construction of the western distributor road was not included in the original Building on Recovery capital plan, nevertheless my Department facilitated the development of the project by providing grant assistance for the project planning and design over a number of years.

As for the construction phase of the project, my Department made a strong case for additional funding under the capital plan review and, following the conclusion of the review in 2017, significant extra funding was allocated to my Department in the period to 2021. I was, therefore, very glad to be able to commit grant funding for the construction phase of the distributor road.

Sligo County Council, as the statutory road authority, is responsible for implementation of the distributor road scheme which is, I understand, at land acquisition stage. The council is required to comply with the requirements of the public spending code, the Department’s capital appraisal framework and the memorandum relating to the provision of grants for regional and local roads. In this context, during 2017, approval was given to the council to proceed with the detailed design of the scheme and the preparation of contract documents. In addition, approval was given to the council to proceed with an advance works contract for fencing and site clearance. I understand that the fencing work is now substantially complete.

Grant funding of €800,000 has been allocated to the scheme this year. The project tender documentation has been finalised and was submitted to my Department for review in mid-April. Approval has recently been given to the council to invite tenders for the main construction contract.

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