Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Transport if a report (details supplied) has been submitted to his Department from Mayo County Council. [32117/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In September, 2004 the Government confirmed the Office of Public Works (OPW) as the State's lead agency in flooding, to be tasked with delivering an integrated, multifaceted programme aimed at mitigating future flood risk and impact.

As regards flooding of roads, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993, to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection of works to be funded from these grants is also a matter for the local authority.

When road grants for regional and local roads are allocated each year, my Department does not hold back a reserve allocation at central level to deal with weather contingencies. Such an arrangement would mean a reduction across all local authorities in the road grant allocations to them at the beginning of each year. Instead, the allocation made to local authorities is inclusive of the weather risk factor. Local authorities are expressly advised that they should set aside contingency sums from their overall regional and local roads resources to finance necessary weather related works. Mayo County Council submitted a report to my Department in relation to damage to roads caused by flooding in July this year. This report is currently being considered by my Department. Consideration of any applications for financial assistance would, of course, have to take account of the current budgetary situation and the resources already allocated to the county.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will approve the tender submitted by Kerry County Council for the new bridge at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32143/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will approve the successful tender for the provision of a new bridge at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32494/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 208 together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, including bridges, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. My Department gave approval to Kerry County Council to go to tender for the Ballinagar Bridge project in May this year. Tender proposals for the project, which I have been advised are expected shortly, will be considered when they are received.