Written answers

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Improvement Schemes

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if increased funding will be provided to Cavan and Monaghan county councils for the non-national road network programme for 2017 in view of the deterioration of the condition of this road network and the need for increased investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32681/16]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide specific funding to Monaghan and Cavan county councils for the local improvement scheme for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32682/16]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Cavan is the statutory responsibility of Cavan County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.

Ireland has just under 100,000 kilometres of road in its network and the maintenance and improvement of national, regional and local roads places a substantial financial burden on local authorities and on the Exchequer.  Because of the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in Exchequer funding available for roads over the past number of years.  While 2017 will see a modest increase in funding for roads, it will take some years yet under the Capital Plan to restore "steady state" funding levels for regional and local roads. The primary focus in 2017 will, therefore, continue to be on the maintenance and renewal of public roads. I do, however, expect that local authorities will continue to be able to use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for the local improvement scheme. 

The regional and local road grant allocations for next year have yet to be decided but I expect to announce the details early next year. Given funding constraints, my objective has to be to allocate funding to local authorities on as equitable basis as possible taking into account the road lengths in each local authority's area of responsibility. 

It is important to reiterate that State grants are intended to supplement local authorities' own resources.  In this context, I am emphasising to Councils 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.

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