Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will ringfence special funding to the local authorities for traffic calming measures, such as pedestrian crossings, additional signage and rumble strips, on county and regional roads in view of significant increases in traffic volumes travelling through villages and other built up areas in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38728/06]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will ringfence additional funding to the local authorities for traffic calming measures such as pedestrian crossings, additional signage and rumble strips in view of significant increases in traffic volumes travelling through villages and other built up areas in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38729/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 583 together.

The provision of traffic calming measures on non-national roads in its area, which would include the provision of pedestrian crossings, road traffic signs and rumble strips, is a matter for Meath County Council to be funded from its own resources, supplemented by State 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.

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. In 2006, my Department allocated €133,919 to Meath County Council in respect of Low Cost Safety Improvement Works on non-national roads.

Meath County Council may also use Discretionary Improvement Grants provided by my Department to fund such works. In 2006, the Discretionary Improvement grant allocation to Meath County Council is €798,000. The prioritisation of works to be funded from these grants is a matter for Meath County Council.

I intend to announce non-national road grant allocations for 2007 early in the new year.