Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take as a result of the recent pavement condition study which shows that increased traffic and heavier traffic has brought new structural deterioration to roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36638/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 552: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to provide extra funding to the local authorities with a view to carrying out reinstatement and improvement to minor roads throughout the country that have suffered from increased traffic volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36980/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he intends to offer increased funding to the various local authorities for the purpose of improving and upgrading roads other than those for which the National Roads Authority is responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36982/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 552 and 554 together.

The improvement of non-national roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by grants provided by my Department. Responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority and the National Roads Authority which operates under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.

Consultants have recently completed a new pavement condition study of non-national roads and a review of pavement management systems for my Department. The study is essentially a needs analysis which is critical to the proper planning of the non-national roads restoration programme over the coming years.

From 1997 to the end of 2004 the total grant assistance provided by my Department in respect of non-national roads was some €2.9 billion. Of this, almost €1.5 billion was paid to local authorities in respect of works under the restoration programme. In 2005, I have allocated of €495.27 million to non-national roads, including €234.222 million to the restoration programme. The 2005 allocation represents the highest level of funding ever provided for non-national roads and is more than double the 1997 allocation.

By the end of this year nearly 80% of the deficient non-national road network identified in the 1996 pavement condition study will have been restored to good condition.

The results of the new study will form an important part of the ongoing process of determining the investment needs of the non-national road network to address the impact of traffic volume growth. I am currently considering the results of the study and how best to implement the recommendations. I intend to announce road grant allocations for 2006 in respect of non-national roads early in the new year.