Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 659: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he intends to introduce new road tolls in line with the recommendations of the recent study by the National Roads Authority. [9430/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In addition, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).

The "National Roads Traffic Management Study" published recently together with other work being undertaken by the NRA will help inform consideration of future traffic management measures, including tolling. The issues involved will need to be considered carefully before decisions are made on future tolling strategy. More generally, the Deputy will note that the Estimates for my Department under the outgoing government's 4-year plan are not sufficent to maintain the existing investment in national and regional roads. It is within this context, and the broader fiscal challenges this State faces as the result of the previous government's mismanagement of this country's finances, that decisions on future tolling strategy must be made.

I would welcome any views that the Deputy may wish to offer with regard to the future funding of the national and regional road networks.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 660: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the damage caused to regional, secondary and local roads in County Clare as a result of two very harsh winters, his plans to make an exceptional funding allocation to enable Clare County Council to carry-out urgently required repairs, re-making and resurfacing of those roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9437/11]

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. However, the initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. A total of €375,176,000 has been allocated in 2011 for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads. As regards the availability of additional funding, I have directed that the overall transport budget is assessed to determine what scope exists for allocating additional funds for the repair and maintenance of regional and local roads. Any additional funding made available to local authorities as a result of this process will be subject to the normal assessment criteria relating to State grants.