Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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195. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will reintroduce a funding stream for specific improvement grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3451/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, 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.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

In recent years, in order to protect funding for road maintenance and repair, regional and local road improvement schemes, including the Specific and Strategic Grants Schemes, have been curtailed.  I have also been emphasising to local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating own resources, including revenue from Local Property Tax receipts.

My Department's road budget will continue to be tight for the next number of years and the primary focus will continue to be on maintenance work.  The 7 year transport Capital Plan does, however, provide for the gradual build up in capital funding for the road network from the current relatively low base towards the levels needed to support maintenance and improvement works.