Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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250. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department will provide the financial assistance requested by Donegal County Council for investment in local roads and community initiatives in advance of the holding of an event (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13290/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads within its area of responsibility are the statutory responsibility of Donegal 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 local authority.

I announced the 2018 regional and local road allocations on 29th January and all grant funding available to my Department has now been allocated.  Donegal County Council has been allocated €33 million approx.  The base grant allocation has increased by close to €3 million from the 2017 initial allocation and in addition €10 million is being allocated this year to assist Donegal with works related to the severe flooding event last summer.  It is for the Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme, taking available grant funding and its own resources into account. 

In December 2017 Donegal County Council contacted my Department seeking a contribution to the estimated €3 million road infrastructure costs related to facilitating the Irish Open Golf Tournament.  In response my Department notified Donegal County Council that unfortunately, given the competing demands for funding and the continued need to try to restore funding for maintenance/rehabilitation programmes along with funding a limited number of improvement projects under the Capital Plan, the Department would not be in a position to provide funding over and above Donegal's annual road grant allocation to assist with the works proposed on the access roads to the Irish Open Golf Championship in 2018.

In this context my Department's approach in such circumstances is to allow the relevant local authority to make whatever adjustments are needed to its restoration programmes arising from works associated with Irish Open Golf Championship.  However, Fáilte Ireland and Sport Ireland are providing €500,000 each to support the Irish Open in Donegal this year as part of a three year government-sanctioned deal.