Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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593. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, having regard to the stimulus package and with particular reference to his response to a topical issue debate on 28 May 2013, he considers that a project (details supplied) in County Kildare warrants inclusion in any future stimulus programme; his views on whether the project is one to which his Department is already committed, in line with his response to Dáil Éireann on 28 May; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29249/13]

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 Council. As outlined to the Deputy in response to his question in January this year, my Department received an application from Kildare County Council in November 2008 for 100% funding of the Athy Southern Distributor Road.  The estimated total cost of the project is in excess of €34 million.

Given funding constraints it has been necessary to focus available resources on the maintenance and repair of regional and local roads rather than development projects.  For this reason the €50 million recently made available is being directed to surface restoration work throughout the country.

I am not in a position at present to give any commitment regarding the provision of further funding for the construction of this project. The limited amount of funding being allocated to development projects will focus on projects already under construction or to meet commitments already in place.  While the Department did provide some funding to allow certain design and planning work to be done on the project, it was made clear by my Department that there no funding commitment beyond that.

I am aware of the importance of this road to Athy and to the south Leinster region. If and when the financial position of the State improves I would like to be in a position to support the advancement of this project.