Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 197: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the importance of the proposed southern distributor road at Athy, County Kildare; if he will continue to provide funding to ensure this project can proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16020/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.A total of €435,176,000 is being provided for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads in 2011. From this allocation, Kildare County Council has been allocated a total of €13,229,847.

My Department received an application from Kildare County Council in November 2008 for 100% funding of the Athy Southern Distributor Road at an estimated cost of €42 million. A grant of €150,000 was allocated to the Council in 2011 to allow certain design and planning work on this project to be undertaken.

A review of all capital expenditure is being undertaken at present. It is only when that review process is completed that future allocations can be determined. I am not in a position to give any commitment regarding the provision of further funding for this road in the future.