Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1575. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding road maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1008/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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.Ireland has a particularly extensive road network at approx. 99,000 kilometres and the maintenance and improvement of national, regional and local roads places a substantial financial burden on local authorities and on the Exchequer. State funding for Ireland's road network fell significantly during the recession.  In 2008 capital funding for regional and local roads was €470 million and current funding was €134 million while last year capital expenditure was €331.5 million and current funding €43.7 million. The 2016 capital amount included special funding which was made available to address the impact of severe weather on the road network.  In order to avoid deterioration in the condition of the regional and local road network each year 5% of the network needs to be strengthened and 5% needs to be sealed by way of surface dressing works. For the last number of years only half the required road pavement works have been undertaken on the regional and local road network. This means that the backlog of repair works is increasing.

Analysis undertaken by the Department resulting in the publication of a Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport in 2015 estimated on a conservative basis that expenditure of €580 million per annum is needed to keep the regional and local road network in a steady state condition. 

The transport element of the Capital Plan is based on a 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. Funding will continue to be tight in 2017 with a modest increase in the budget.  It is expected that funding will be stepped up in 2018 and 2019 and then a significant ramp up will follow from 2020. My Department has to work within the budgets included in the Capital Plan.

I continue to emphasise the local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating their own resources.