Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport the new role for the National Roads Authority as the manager of the non-national road network on a non-statutory basis; the powers that have been removed from the local authorities in this regard; the way the NRA will implement its new control oversight of these roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6430/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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. A copy of the agreement has been lodged with the Dail Library. 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.