Written answers

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Roads Maintenance

Photo of Imelda MunsterImelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1418. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on regional and local roads in County Mayo in each of the years 2011 to 2017. [1104/18]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Details of the regional and local road grant payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. 

The tables included in the payment booklets outline expenditure by type of grant programme. For the Deputy's information an explanation of the purpose of the main Regional and Local Road Grant Programmes is set out below:

Restoration Maintenance (RM): The purpose of the RM grant is to protect the structural integrity of the road by way of surface dressing through the sealing of the road surface. The purpose of restoration maintenance is to maintain the asset before it requires improvement.

Restoration Improvement Grant (RI):The RI grant programme is the main road strengthening programme and caters for surface restoration, pavement overlay works, complete road rehabilitation works and for drainage works where required.

Discretionary Grant (DG): Councils have discretion in spending these grants for improvement and maintenance works subject to selecting from a list of eligible works. However Councils are requested to prioritise projects which involve strengthening works, remedying road defects, winter maintenance and drainage works.

Bridge Rehabilitation (BR): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake bridge rehabilitation works. Safety Improvement Works (BS): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake safety improvement works.

Training Grant (TG): The Training Grant assists in the provision of training of persons engaged in maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads. 

Specific Grant and Strategic Grants :The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific (road improvement schemes costing up to €5m.) and Strategic (improvement schemes costing over €5m.) grant programmes. Instead it considers projects on a case by case basis with a particular focus on:

- Major bridge rehabilitation works which are outside the scope of the normal bridge rehabilitation programme

- Critical safety improvement works which are outside the scope of the normal safety improvement programme

- Projects which would have a significant and quantifiable economic impact, particularly as regards employment and on industrial, tourism, agricultural, rural development and urban regeneration.

Photo of Brendan  RyanBrendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1419. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the allocations for regional and local roads in his Department in each of the years 2014 to 2018, by grant type and outturns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1161/18]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. 

The tables included in the payment and allocation booklets outline expenditure by type of grant programme. For the Deputy's information an explanation of the purpose of the main Regional and Local Road Grant Programmes is set out below:

Restoration Maintenance (RM): The purpose of the RM grant is to protect the structural integrity of the road by way of surface dressing through the sealing of the road surface. The purpose of restoration maintenance is to maintain the asset before it requires improvement.

Restoration Improvement Grant (RI):The RI grant programme is the main road strengthening programme and caters for surface restoration, pavement overlay works, complete road rehabilitation works and for drainage works where required.

Discretionary Grant (DG): Councils have discretion in spending these grants for improvement and maintenance works subject to selecting from a list of eligible works. However Councils are requested to prioritise projects which involve strengthening works, remedying road defects, winter maintenance and drainage works.

Bridge Rehabilitation (BR): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake bridge rehabilitation works.

Safety Improvement Works (BS): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake safety improvement works.

Training Grant (TG): The Training Grant assists in the provision of training of persons engaged in maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads. 

Specific Grant and Strategic Grants:The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific (road improvement schemes costing up to €5m.) and Strategic (improvement schemes costing over €5m.) grant programmes. Instead it considers projects on a case by case basis with a particular focus on:

- Major bridge rehabilitation works which are outside the scope of the normal bridge rehabilitation programme

- Critical safety improvement works which are outside the scope of the normal safety improvement programme

- Projects which would have a significant and quantifiable economic impact, particularly as regards employment and on industrial, tourism, agricultural, rural development and urban regeneration.

It is expected that regional and local road allocations for 2018 will be notified to local authorities shortly. In line with my Department's 2018 roads budget, an increase in allocations to local authorities is anticipated.

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1420. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount his Department has allocated for the maintenance of the regional and local road network in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1258/18]

Photo of Shane RossShane 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.

It is expected that regional and local road allocations for 2018 will be notified to local authorities shortly.

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