Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Transport the new capital projects associated with his Department gone to tender that will begin in 2010; the new capital projects gone to tender that were due to start in 2010 but are not now proceeding; the capital projects that are in the middle of construction at present; his views on the importance of such projects in getting capital flowing into banks and around the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3173/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The construction, improvement and maintenance of national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility only for the overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Grant allocations to local authorities for are made on an annual basis. I will forward the Deputy details of the 2009 regional and local road grant payments for specific projects.

The 2010 regional and local road grant allocations are being finalised in my Department at present and I expect to announce the allocations by mid February. The amount of money provided in the 2010 Estimates for funding regional and local roads is €411.177 million and this year's allocation will be based on that amount.

I will forward details of the 2010 road grant allocations directly to the Deputy at that time. Public Transport

Since 1st December 2009, the provision of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area is a matter which comes under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In relation to 2010, over €600m in Exchequer funding has been provided for investment in public transport infrastructure. This investment will allow the completion of a number of projects including the Kildare route project, Navan phase 1 and Luas line B1. Work will also continue in 2010 on the rollout of the railway safety programme and the Luas line to City West.

Planning will also progress on a number of projects such as Metro North and DART Underground. Aviation

Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport is due to finish construction in November 2010. This construction is funded entirely by the DAA. National Sustainable Travel Office

Capital projects associated with implementation of the SmarterTravel policy that are in the middle of construction are provision of a walking and cycling network in Carrigaline, Co Cork, routes from PassageWest to Rochestown, Co Cork and at Fisheries Field, Galway and routes linking Adamstown to Grand Canal, South Dublin and in Westport, Co Mayo.

In addition, further projects will be started in 2010. For example, schemes will be selected from competitions such as the Smarter Travel Demonstration Areas Fund and the Smarter Travel Demonstration Projects Fund. Details of these will be available on www.smartertravel.ie as progress is made.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Transport if the roads allocation for Cork County Council will reflect the national average per kilometre in view of the fact that the current allocation to County Cork, per kilometre of road serviced, is among the lowest awarded in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3195/10]

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.

Regional and Local road grants are allocated under a number of grant categories. The only grant categories which are calculated by reference to length of road are the discretionary improvement, discretionary maintenance and restoration maintenance categories.

The amount of money provided in the 2010 Estimates for funding regional and local roads is €411.177 million and this year's allocation will be based on that amount.

Details of the 2009 grant allocations per kilometer to each county council under these specified grant categories are set out in the following Table.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Transport the allocation that will be made to Cork County Council for non-national, secondary and national primary and secondary roads in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3196/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national road and bridge projects, including those within Cork County Council's functional area, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Grants in respect of national roads are allocated to local authorities by the NRA and I have no function in this regard.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The carrying out of works on these roads is 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.

In determining the annual regional and local road grant allocations, the overall objective is to resource each local area, including Cork County Council, appropriately in relation to their ongoing and special needs.

Grants are provided each year to local authorities for works on regional and local roads under a number of grant categories. The level of grants allocated to individual authorities is determined each year having regard to the total funds available in a particular year; eligibility criteria for the different grant schemes; road pavement conditions; length of road network; the need to prioritise projects and competing demands from other local authorities.

The amount of money provided in the 2010 Estimates for funding regional and local roads is €411.177 million and this year's allocation will be based on that amount.

I will announce the 2010 regional and local road grant allocations by mid February 2010.