Written answers

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Road Projects Expenditure

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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634. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a public consultation process which was to have involved the local community and businesses in Ardfinnan and surrounding villages in County Tipperary, prior to Tipperary County Council submitting an application under the bridge rehabilitation scheme for Ardfinnan bridge, with regard to plans to introduce a one-lane and traffic light system on the bridge as part of the rehabilitation works; if the consultation took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16175/17]

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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635. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is in the remit of Tipperary County Council to reallocate the moneys to other projects in the county if the proposed works come under budget following the allocation of €800,000 toward bridge rehabilitation works on Ardfinnan bridge, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16176/17]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 634 and 635 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including bridges) in Tipperary is the statutory responsibility of Tipperary 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.

I understand that the Council is looking at the possibility of making provision for pedestrians on Ardfinnan Bridge and one option is to reduce traffic to a single lane, controlled by signals. Any public consultation into proposals for traffic management provisions on this bridge are a matter for the Council in conjunction with the local community.

In relation to Specific Grant road projects that are delivered below budget, any proposed transfer of allocations by a local authority is subject to approval by my Department.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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636. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of funding expended on the local improvement scheme programme on an annual basis over the period from 2010 to 2016; the allocation for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16220/17]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding arising from the financial crisis, it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in 2012 in respect of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Details of the allocations in respect of LIS to local authorities for 2010 and 2011 were as follows;

​Year​Total LIS Allocation
​2010€4,904,338​
​2011€4,808,855​

No monies were provided by the Department for LIS in 2012.

Since 2013, while there is no separate allocation for LIS, the allocation of funding for LIS has been devolved to local authorities, who can use a proportion of their Discretionary grant funding for LIS should they wish to do so. The allowable proportion of Discretionary Grant was 7% in 2013 and this was increased to 15% from 2014 onwards. For example Donegal County Council could use €677,675 of its Discretionary Grant monies in 2017 for LIS should it wish to do so.

Details of the regional and local road grant payments to County Councils in the period 2010-2016 are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.  Details of the 2017 regional and local road grant allocations to each County Council are also available in the Oireachtas library.

In light of the provision in the Programme for Government indicating that, as the economy recovers, the Government will promote increased funding for Community Involvement and Local Improvement Schemes, I will review the scope for making a separate grant allocation once the planned Review of the Capital Plan is completed.

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