Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is legal for county councils to seek bonds from forestry companies for the use of the public road and to charge forestry companies for wear and tear on these roads thus imposing significant costs on forestry companies for public infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18371/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The maintenance and improvement 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. A total of €439.676 million is being provided in regional and local road grants in 2011. This allocation includes the additional €60 million being provided by the Government under the jobs initiative. Under Sections 48 and 49 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, local authorities may, subject to certain conditions, require the payment of developmental contributions or supplementary development contributions in respect of public infrastructure which benefits a proposed development.

Heavy trucks, particularly fully laden forestry trucks can cause great damage to road pavements (especially to weak pavements on legacy roads). Under the Planning and Development Act it is open to local authorities to seek to recoup the cost of certain road strengthening works in appropriate circumstances.