Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason funding has not been provided for the replacement of the Spiddoge Bridge, Beaufort, County Kerry on the L7515 in the 2013 specific improvement grants allocation to Kerry County Council; if he will take into consideration the fact that the closure of this bridge is of great inconvenience to the local community, if he will now make funding available in order that work may commence on this important piece of infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4903/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 local authority.  In July last year, the National Roads Authority (NRA) on behalf of the Department issued a circular to all local authorities inviting applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme.  Kerry County Council submitted 9 projects for consideration for funding in 2013. Spideog Bridge was not, however, included in the Council's submission. It is open to Kerry County Council to fund these works from its Discretionary Grant or alternatively from its own resources.