Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 750: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered a proposal (details supplied) to request local authorities to turn off specific public lighting at night time in rural locations as a cost saving measure which he estimates could save the State somewhere in the region of €10 million to €11 million annually, and as is the current practice in some European cities. [7977/12]

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. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads projects are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority within its area, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads including the installation, maintenance and operation of traffic lights are a matter for the relevant local authority. The safe operation of traffic lights and the potential for energy savings are also a matter for each local authority.

Regarding the potential for energy savings on national roads, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.