Written answers

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Projects

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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588. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to increase funding for roads in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15981/16]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of local authorities 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 to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded from these monies is a matter for each local authority.

In addition to the 2016 regional and local road allocations announced in January this year, which are available in the Oireachtas Library, my predecessor announced additional funding for regional and local roads in February this year as part of the Tranche 1 funding to local authorities to remedy damage caused by severe weather.  On 27 May I approved a further allocation under Tranche 2 of the severe weather funding to local authorities as notified through Circular RW 9/2016. This brings the total  regional and local road allocation for Cavan to €11,350,211 and for Monaghan to €12,313,432 for 2016.  All available funding for 2016 has now been allocated.

When allocating grant funding, my Department has emphasised that the commitment of local authorities to contribute significantly from their own resources towards the cost of improving and maintaining the regional and local roads network is essential.  Full consideration needs to be given to utilising the Local Property Tax to boost own resources expenditure on regional and local road maintenance and renewal.

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