Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

9:00 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Transport the process that will apply to 2010 grant applications in respect of roads programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32180/09]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Transport if a unit within the National Roads Authority will be responsible for dealing with representations from public representatives regarding local and regional roads programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32182/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 203 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.

New arrangements for the management and administration of regional and local road grants were introduced on 1st September 2009. These arrangements were put in place on foot of the existing statutory framework which places responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads with local authorities.

From 1st September, last, the National Roads Authority agreed to undertake the management of the Regional and Local Roads Investment Programme on behalf of my Department. The National Roads Authority will recommend grant allocations for regional and local roads for 2010 and subsequent years, which will be subject to final approval by the Minister for Transport. A circular was issued to all local authorities on 18 August last to advise them of the Department's agreement with the NRA. The authorities were further advised that all correspondence in relation to regional and local road grants, including correspondence in relation to individual projects and programmes should be addressed to the NRA from 1st September 2009.

The handling of representations from public representatives in relation to the regional and local roads investment programme remains a function of my Department. The 2010 grant allocations will be announced early in the New Year.

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will make a statement on the National Roads Authority's budgetary systems in the future: if there will be an annual NRA budget for local and regional roads; if there will be an annual NRA budget for national routes; and if there will be one overall budget for all roads. [32181/09]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Capital funding in my Department is generally dealt with under the Transport 21 investment framework. In this context, an amount is allocated on an annual basis to the National Roads Authority (NRA) from my Department's overall Vote. The NRA is responsible under the Roads Act 1993 (as amended) for the allocation of this funding to individual national road projects. Similarly, an amount is allocated on an annual basis from my Department's overall Vote for regional and local roads. From 2010 the NRA will administer the distribution of this funding to local authorities on my behalf. Previously my Department had carried out this administration work. The present practice of having separate sub-heads within my Department's Vote for national and for local and regional roads will continue.

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