Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will direct the National Roads Authority, under section 41 of the Roads Act 1993 or otherwise, to carry out a nationwide upgrading and maintenance programme of the national secondary and regional roads network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23285/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects, including road maintenance, surfacing works and any necessary research or testing activities associated therewith, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Sections 17 and 19 of the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

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.

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.