Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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666. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views regarding road issues (details supplied) in County Dublin. [2469/14]

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 (in this case, Dublin City Council) to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.

It is, therefore, a matter for the local authority to decide on the appropriate materials which should be used to maintain and rehabilitate road surfaces within its functional area while having regard to the options available under the relevant standards and guidance documents.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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667. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will provide funding to complete an infrastructural project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2551/14]

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 these roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for local authorities.

Up to now local authorities could apply for grant funding for projects such as this under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme. However, due to the need to focus the limited funding available on the repair and strengthening of the road network, it is necessary to curtail the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme for the moment.

It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement the resources of Councils like Kerry County Council. It is, therefore, open to the Council to fund this project from its own resources.