Written answers

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Road Safety

10:00 am

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the safety issues involved, he will introduce grant aid for the construction of cattle underpasses on the road network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40347/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. While there are no specific grants available from my Department for the construction of cattle underpasses on the non-national road network, local authorities may use discretionary improvement grants provided by my Department towards the cost of providing such underpasses. In 2006, the discretionary improvement grant allocation to county councils is €24.27 million. In addition, in cases where my Department is providing grant assistance for the provision of new non-national roads or improvements to existing non-national roads, it is open to local authorities to include underpasses as part of such schemes in circumstances where they are deemed to be appropriate by the authority.

My Department has no function in relation to national roads. 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.

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