Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 372: To ask the Minister for Transport if extra funding will be awarded to Kildare County Council to carry out urgently required repairs to the network of minor roads throughout the county which have suffered serious damage over the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3899/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in their areas is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State Grants. The initial selection of projects or works to be funded under the various grant categories is also a matter for local authorities.

In 2007, grants totalling €23.531 million were allocated to Kildare County Council for works on regional and local roads. This included a Discretionary Maintenance grant of €694,000 and a Discretionary Improvement grant of €587,000.

The funds available to local authorities for improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads are intended to cover contingencies arising from severe weather conditions. The "Memorandum on Grants for Non-National Roads" provides that the cost of remedial works necessitated by such conditions must be met from these resources and that local authorities should set aside contingency sums to finance these works.

My Department is also prepared to consider sympathetically any request from local authorities to adjust their multi-annual Restoration Programmes in order to prioritise work necessitated by severe weather conditions. In 2007, Kildare County Council was allocated a Restoration Improvement grant of €6.487 million and a Restoration Maintenance grant of €1.902 million.

I will announce the 2008 Regional and Local Road Grant Allocations shortly.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in the context of the upgrading of the Johnstownbridge-Edenderry route, it is intended to meet the concerns of the residents of Carbury who are concerned at the proposal to create a situation whereby access to the road will not be by way of proposed roundabout, having particular regard to previous commitments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3900/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The upgrade of the Edenderry to Enfield road is being undertaken by Kildare County Council with grant assistance provided by my Department. The design of the route is a matter for the local authority.

Before works of this nature may proceed, the local authority is obliged to comply with requirements of planning legislation. I understand that those requirements, which include extensive public consultation, were complied with in respect of this project and that the works were approved by the elected members of Kildare County Council in December 2006. My Department has no function in that process.