Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received a resubmitted funding application for a new bridge at Cockhill, Buncrana, County Donegal, to take road traffic, and pedestrians, away from the existing unsafe bridge on this busy route through the heart of the Inishowen peninsula; and if he will provide funding for this vital project. [8483/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not received a re-submitted funding application in 2015 for a new bridge at Cockhill, Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The position remains that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, including bridges, is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.  

While my Department supplements local authority funding with grants, budgetary constraints mean that the Department is not in a position to provide funding for a new bridge at present.  The decision on whether to seek funding for an alternative option, such as a pedestrian bridge, rests with the Council. I have indicated that in view of the safety issues at this location, my Department is prepared to consider funding for a footbridge.

The role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement the resources of Councils. It is, therefore, open to the Council to fund both the design and construction of a new bridge from its own resources.