Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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714. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide funding to Donegal County Council to allow them make a provision for funding or resources to citizens whose roads are not maintained by Donegal County Council; if his attention has been drawn to the number of roads in the county that are not maintained by the council; the serious condition of these roads and if he has discussed this issue with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31803/13]

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. Donegal County Council has been allocated over €22.4 million from my Department to supplement its own input for 2013. My Department recently launched a pilot Community Involvement Scheme for works on regional and local roads.   This scheme is aimed at works on local roads which would only be considered for funding towards the end of a Council’s road programme after more heavily trafficked routes had been dealt with.   This is a voluntary scheme and is available to give local communities the opportunity to have these works completed where they would not normally be considered for funding. Applications closed earlier this year and allocations have been made. Its uptake will be examined later this year and assessed for its potential to continue beyond 2013. With regard to private roads, the improvement and maintenance of these roads are in the first instance a matter for the landowner.  Local authorities may however provide assistance to the public for these private roads under the Local Improvements Schemes.   Local authorities may use up to 7% of their Discretionary Grant towards such schemes should they wish. It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Donegal County Council in their spending in this area. I have regular discussions with my colleagues in Government in relation to the road network and road grants and this has included both the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, as well as the Minister of State at that Department.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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715. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Roads Authority have received a submission from a local authority regarding the provision of funding to amend a stretch of road (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if funding will be made available for the making the particular section safer for motorists; when he envisages any such funding being made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31814/13]

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 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 individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. Noting the above position, 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.