Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the rising costs of road maintenance; his plans to achieve greater value for taxpayers money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17476/08]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will instigate a nationwide audit of the surfaces of the regional, primary and local road network; the directions he has made to the National Roads Authority under Section 41 of the Roads Act 1993 in 2005, 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17337/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 62 together.

The provision, improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. A national Pavement Condition Study of the regional and local road network was carried out in 1996 and a second Pavement Condition Study of the network was completed in 2005.

On foot of the findings of the second study, grants available to county councils under the pavement restoration programme for restoration improvement and restoration maintenance works have been significantly increased in recent years. In view of the fact that the last study of regional and local roads was carried out recently, I do not propose to have another study carried out in the near future.

My Department monitors the cost of works undertaken by local authorities under the pavement restoration programme. Increased cost of surface dressing maintenance works in recent years can be attributed to a range of factors including increased cost of oil and bitumen, greater use of higher grade bitumen to cater for higher traffic flows, increased cost of chippings and other materials, higher plant hire costs, wage increases and additional health and safety requirements.

I have not issued any directions to the NRA under Section 41 of the Roads Act 1993 since I became Minister for Transport in 2007. I understand that to date no ministerial directions have been made under this Act.