Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Transport his reasons for ordering a halt to all regional road projects in County Donegal that have not already commenced construction. [13633/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities were advised by my Department on 23 February that, in order to enable the Government to have maximum discretion in future allocations, the Department of Finance was reviewing the current level of contractual commitments in respect of Exchequer capital expenditure. Local authorities were advised that, as a temporary measure, they may not enter into new contractual commitments in respect of regional or local road projects to be funded by State road grants. That restriction will be reviewed following the forthcoming Supplementary Budget.

The total capital allocation to the National Roads Authority (NRA) for its national roads investment programme for 2009 is €1.44 billion. All but approximately €50m of this year's allocation on national roads is already contractually committed and does not require prior Department of Finance approval. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.