Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 868: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Kells, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26324/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 869: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Navan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26325/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 870: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Trim, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26326/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 871: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Athboy, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26327/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 872: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Oldcastle, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26328/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 873: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Enfield, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26329/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 874: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Summerhill, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26330/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 875: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Kilmessan, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26331/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 876: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Dromone, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26332/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 877: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Ballivor, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26333/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 878: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Longwood, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26334/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 879: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Bohermeen, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26335/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 880: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Robinstown, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26336/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 881: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide additional funding to Meath County Council for road speed reduction measures on regional approach roads in Dunderry, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26337/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 868 to 881, inclusive, together.

The carrying out of improvements to non-national roads, including road speed reduction measures, is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department.

The Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced by my Department in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority (NRA). The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of my Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on accident data, inspection of sites, locations showing demonstrable hazard and discussions between the local authority and the NRA. Meath County Council submitted seven applications to my Department for consideration for funding under this scheme in 2006, but these did not include any of the locations referred to in the Question. Four of the seven applications submitted by the Council have received grants totalling €133,919 in 2006.

My Department will again be seeking applications under the Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants later this year and it will be open to Meath Council to submit applications for consideration for funding under this scheme in 2007.

Local authorities may also use their own resources, as supplemented by my Department's Discretionary Improvement grant, to fund speed reduction measures. In 2006 the total Discretionary Improvement grant allocation to Meath County Council is €798,000. The prioritisation of works to be funded from this grant allocation is a matter for Meath County Council.

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 882: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide emergency funding to Westmeath County Council to carry out remedial works at the five dangerous narrow bridges on the R395 from Delvin to Castlepollard on health and safety grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26352/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and improvement of non-national roads in County Westmeath is a matter for Westmeath County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State Grants provided by my Department.

The Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced by my Department in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority (NRA). The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of my Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on accident data, inspection of sites, locations showing demonstrable hazard and discussions between the local authority and the NRA. Westmeath County Council submitted 10 applications to my Department for funding under this scheme in 2006, but these did not include the locations referred to in the Question. The Council has been allocated a total sum of €105,000 for three projects under this scheme in 2006.

My Department will again be seeking applications under the Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants later this year and it will be open to Westmeath County Council to submit applications for consideration for funding under this scheme in 2007.

Local authorities may also use their own resources, as supplemented by my Department's Discretionary Improvement grant, to fund improvement works to bridges. In 2006 the total Discretionary Improvement grant allocation to Westmeath County Council is €546,000. The prioritisation of works to be funded from this grant allocation is a matter for Westmeath County Council.