Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Reilly for raising this matter. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. 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 these roads are funded from local authorities' 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.

As a result of the national financial position, Exchequer funding for Ireland's roads has fallen radically. Funding in 2008 was €2.3 billion, while funding this year for national, regional and local roads stands at €728 million. The reality is that available funds do not match the amount of work required. For this reason, the main focus must be on the maintenance and repair of public roads. This will continue to be the position for some years to come.

The local improvement scheme to which the Senator referred provides funding for non-public roads and laneways that have not been taken in charge by a council. However, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is a matter for the relevant landowner. Given the financial position, there is no separate allocation for the local improvement scheme. Instead, local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial discretionary grant towards local improvement schemes should they wish to do so. The local contribution for these schemes is 20% of the total cost of the project.

It is open to local authorities to supplement the percentage of the discretionary grant they can use for the local improvement schemes with their own resources. As I indicated, the purpose of Exchequer grants is to supplement the resources of local authorities. It is also a matter for a local authority to agree and prioritise its work programme for the year.

My Department is gathering statistics from local authorities on the local improvement scheme. Of the 19 local authorities that have responded thus far, only four decided to avail of the local improvement scheme in 2014. I note that Cavan County Council availed of the scheme and completed four local improvement projects in 2014. It is my understanding that the majority of local authorities opt to focus funding on public roads. Local authorities are best placed to judge the priority of works on private roads. In this way, they may decide whether they want to operate the local improvement scheme in their area or would prefer to put their resources into regional and local public roads.

If a separate fund were to be set aside for the local improvement scheme, it would involve making a pro ratareduction to the other road grants headings and imposing the scheme on local authorities that would prefer to prioritise public roads. I do not favour such an approach.