Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy regarding funding traffic calming measures at schools; his plans to enhance funding in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21967/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​As indicated to the Deputy in response to PQ 14004/17, 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.  Under Road Traffic legislation traffic management is also the responsibility of the relevant 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 traffic calming projects for consideration under this grant category. Alternatively, it is also open to local authorities to consider funding such projects from their Discretionary Grant or their own resources.

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 a local authority's roads programme.