Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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668. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the chronological history of funding provided for a road project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48181/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As I outlined in my response to the Deputy's question (PQ 34966/14) of 18 September regarding the Kenmare Inner Relief Road, 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.

My Department allocated €640,000 in 2014 under the Specific Improvement Grant Scheme to Kerry County Council in respect of the R569 Kenmare Inner Relief Road.  To be of assistance, my officials have made enquiries of the Council regarding progress on the scheme and I understand that works have been ongoing during the course of the year and the road opened to traffic and pedestrians on 24 October 2014. Additional footpath and accommodation works will continue along the road until Q1 2015.

From 2009-2013, the NRA administered the regional and local roads grants programme on behalf of this Department. The process involved local authorities submitting road schemes for assessment under the programme and the R569 Kenmare Inner Relief Road was among the schemes approved for funding. Payments to Kerry County Council under the regional and local roads programme in respect of the Kenmare Inner Relief were as follows: