Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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639. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to upgrade routes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7111/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including the R194 from Virginia to the Oldcastle Road and the R194 from Virginia to Granard Co. Longford) is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the local authority's 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.

I announced the 2017 regional and local road allocations on 24 January and Cavan County Council has been allocated €9.1m, including €90,000 in respect of safety improvement works on the R194 at Ballyjamesduff.  Longford County Council was allocated €6.1m for regional and local roads in 2017 including €40,000 for safety improvement works on the R194 at Springtown.

It is matter for the local authority to select, prioritise, agree and progress its roads programme for the year and the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement the own resources of local authorities, not to meet the full costs of schemes.  All funding for 2017 has now been allocated.