Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will provide funding for the bridge at Ballindeega on the N72 road between Barraduff and Rathmore, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5777/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the steel structure on the bridge at Valentia, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5778/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. The 2011 Regional and Local Road Grant Allocations were announced on 1st February 2011. A total of €375.176 million is being provided to local authorities this year for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads.

In July last year, local authorities were invited to submit applications for funding in 2011 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme. However, funding for Valentia Bridge was not among the applications submitted by Kerry County Council. It is open to Kerry County Council to prioritise this project and to include it among its applications for funding in 2012 when submissions are sought later this year. Alternatively, Kerry County Council may fund this project from its own resources.