1699. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in the 2014 road works allocations in respect of the proposed development of the East/West route from Cootehill to Shercock / Carrickmacross / Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38815/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas sourceWRUUUU03200 type: 7 -->

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.

As regards State grants it has been decided that in order to focus the limited available funds on maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing road network, grants for new development projects will not be available from 2014.

1700. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding to Cavan County Council in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38819/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas sourceWRUUUU03400 type: 7 -->

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.

In July last year local authorities were invited to submit applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme. Cavan County Council applied for funding for five projects under this grant category but Corroneary Bridge was not among the Council’s applications.

The Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is scheduled to be discontinued from 2014 onward in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work. In lieu of the Specific Improvement Grant Programme, applications have been sought for minor bridge repair works (which is a subset of the current Specific Grant Programme) for 2014. This is in line with focusing monies on road and bridge maintenance and strengthening and the council may wish to prioritise this project and submit it for consideration for funding in 2014.

It is also important to re-iterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Cavan County Council in their own resources spending in this area. It is open to the Council to fund this project from its own resources.