Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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728. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding an application by Donegal County Council for funding to develop a new bridge at Cockhill, Buncrana, County Donegal; if he recognises the critical importance of this structure to the Inishowen peninsula; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25885/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The improvement and maintenance 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 supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities 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 local authorities were invited to submit applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme - the  category that would cover such works.  Donegal County Council applied for funding for eleven projects under this grant category but Cockhill Bridge was not among the Council’s applications. The Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is being suspended from 2014 onward in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work.  It is important to reiterate that the role of the Exchequer grant aid is to supplement Councils' own resource spending on regional and local roads.