Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to address the road safety issues that will now arise as a result of roads damaged during the recent bad weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2427/10]

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.

Local authorities in areas affected by the recent bad weather are already carrying out immediate repairs to damaged roads. However, some of these roads may require more extensive works, which will be undertaken when weather conditions are more favourable. In the meantime, as my colleagues and I have stressed in all recent press briefings on the severe weather, road users need to be extremely vigilant and to drive responsibly. This message has also been given out via the press and websites by agencies such as the Road Safety Authority and the National Roads Authority. Care also needs to be exercised by pedestrians, in view of the damage suffered to footpaths.