Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1257. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his general policy when it comes to funding traffic calming measures at schools; if there are proposals being considered by his Department at present to enhance funding in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14004/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads 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 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 local authority.

Applications were sought last year from local authorities for funding in 2017 for my Department's Safety Improvement Works Programme and it is open to local authorities to submit these types of projects for consideration under this grant category. Alternatively, it is also open to local authorities to consider funding such projects from its Discretionary Grant.

It is important to reiterate that it is a matter for the local authority to select, prioritise and agree the works to be funded and progressed each year as part of its annual works programme.  In addition, the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement the own resources of the local authority, not to meet the full cost of schemes.