Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to the National Roads Authority taking over regional and local roads; the person who made the decision to transfer these powers to the NRA from the local authorities; the persons consulted in the decision making process; when the change is due to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35344/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Roads Authority has not taken over responsibility for regional and local roads. They remain the statutory responsibility of the local authorities. From 1st September last, the National Roads Authority was tasked with undertaking certain functions relating to regional and local road grants on behalf of my Department. This was done on foot of an agreement negotiated by officials of my Department and the NRA and approved by me and the Board of the Authority.

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 remains the statutory responsibility of road authorities under section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 and 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 and I will continue to decide on grants policy and on the grant allocations to each individual road authority. 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. Because there is no change in my statutory power I will continue to be accountable to the Oireachtas as at present and will continue to reply to Parliamentary Questions on regional and local road grants.