Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans he has to improve cross border roads in rural North Louth. [13434/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of such works is a matter for them.  On this basis I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply in relation to national cross border roads in the County.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Similarly, under Section 13 of the same Act, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The selection and prioritisation of such works is also a matter for them.  In total, Louth County Council have been allocated State grants of €4,819,210 towards the upkeep and maintenance of the regional and local roads within their administrative area. This figure does not include funds that they will allocate to such works from their own resources.  Details of planned works on roads in Louth County, to be undertaken in both at national and regional and local level are available to the Deputy in the Dáil Library.