Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Transport when approval will be given to the construction of a road bypass at Thomastown, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44132/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, 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.

Regional and local road grant allocations for 2009 were announced in April this year. In the case of Kilkenny County Council, the total grant allocation from my Department in 2009 is €11,373,699. From this allocation Kilkenny County Council is being provided with €900,000 for the R700 Thomastown Relief Road. Progress with the scheme is a matter for Kilkenny County Council.