Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Kennelly for raising the matter. The Senator is a proud representative of his area and I hear his concerns in terms of the temporary fixtures and temporary solutions. The Senator is correct that it is unacceptable that a 16-week closure deprives people. The Senator painted a very dark picture of the lack of connectivity.

I am taking the matter this afternoon for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien.The bridge rehabilitation scheme in the context of Foildarrig Bridge in Duagh is one that we have been here before with. The Senator has been a very strong advocate of this project. As he knows, in the 2025 regional and local roads programme, Government is strongly committed to the protection of the existing road network. I should point out on behalf of the Department that the improvement in maintenance of the regional and local road network in County Kerry is the statutory responsibility of Kerry County Council in accordance with the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from the council's own resources and are, as the Senator said, supported by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority, but I would be happy to visit the area again with the Senator and to make the case that he has made, both to the Department and to Kerry County Council.

The Department of Transport provides grant assistance to local authorities under the regional and local roads grant programme for a number of targeted programmes, including what we are discussing today here, namely, the bridge rehabilitation grant programme. Applications are sought each year from eligible local authorities under the programme for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are asked to submit applications in order of priority. This year, Kerry County Council has been allocated €930,000 for ten schemes under the bridge rehabilitation programme. Last year the council was allocated funding of €845,000 under the same programme, which did include funding for the Foildarrig Bridge to facilitate a special inspection and provision of rock protection on the embankment. It should be noted that approval to proceed with works in the river is also needed from Inland Fisheries Ireland and not from the Department of Transport. There is a need for greater connectivity between all relevant stakeholders here, and I would be happy to work with the Senator on that.

The Department of Transport sought applications in October of last year for funding of climate change adaptation and resilience works on regional and local roads to be carried out by the local authorities during this year. The schemes for inclusion in the application are decided by the local authorities. Applications are made to the Department, taking into account the terms applying for the grant and the available budget for the grant programme. As the Senator knows, it is not possible to allocate funds to all projects. On this occasion, the scheme at Foildarrig Bridge was not allocated funding under the climate change adaptation and resilience works programme. However, the Department will work with Kerry County Council to apportion funds and address areas of urgent and immediate concern as deemed appropriate by the local authority. This is why I think it is important that the Senator and I go back there to make the case again. While grants are based primarily on the initial selection and prioritisation of maintenance and renewal works as a matter for each local authority, there is flexibility within the State grant programme for councils to direct resources to address particular problems identified on their networks as they see fit.

Senator Kennelly has made very clear the need for urgent work to be carried out. It is a critical piece of infrastructure and the Senator has made the point that the 16-week closure is unacceptable and, as he said, it is about the connectivity that is missing. I look forward to working with the Senator. I appreciate his concerns and those of the residents and the lack of funding in this case, but let us work together to ensure that we can apportion more funding to the project again.