Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he asked the National Roads Authority to take over some of the management functions of the non-national roads from the Department of Transport; the reason this was done on a non-statutory basis; if he will explain the management functions of the non-national roads for which the NRA is now responsible for and if there are any fiscal implications for this new role; the way the NRA will interact with his Department and local authorities in carrying out the new management functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34705/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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From 1 September last, the National Roads Authority was tasked to undertake the management of the Regional and Local Roads Grants Programme on behalf of my Department. This decision was taken on grounds of administrative efficiency, particularly in circumstances where there is increasing pressure on staffing and financial resources. It makes sense to use one organisation to administer all road grant payments and to monitor the expenditure of these road grants. The NRA already had very effective systems in place to administer the national road improvement and maintenance programme and it was therefore concluded that the most logical and efficient approach was to use that NRA expertise to administer regional and local road grants as well. The new arrangement was concluded on an administrative basis so as not to affect my statutory role or that of the local authorities in any way. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of road authorities under section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. This statutory position is not affected by the new administrative arrangements. The NRA is not being given any new statutory powers similar to those it has in relation to national roads.

Under section 82 of the Roads Act the Minister for Transport is empowered to pay grants to road authorities and under this power I allocate regional and local road grants to these authorities each year to supplement expenditure from their own resources. This power is also unaffected by the revised administrative arrangements. I will still continue to decide on grants policy and on the grant allocations to each individual roads authority. Because there is no change in my statutory power I will also continue to be accountable to the Oireachtas as at present. In particular I want to confirm that I will continue to reply to Parliamentary Questions on regional and local road grants. There are no financial implications as a result of the change. Regional and local road grants will be paid to the NRA as a block grant and disbursed by it to local authorities in accordance with the allocations I have decided. The management role of the NRA is set out in the Agreement and I have arranged that a copy of the Agreement will be sent to the Deputy.