Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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1113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason his Department does not include funding for preventative safety measures being developed under a non-national safety scheme or low cost accident scheme in areas which have increased risk of accidents occurring due to new development; the other funding schemes available for councils to develop pedestrian crossings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36242/18]

Shane 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 the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. 

Applications for funding under the Department's Safety Improvement Scheme are invited on an annual basis for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of the conditions in relation to applications for funding and are advised that preference will be given to proposals in the cost range €2,000 to €30,000 and that proposals in higher cost ranges, (i.e. €30,000 to €250,000) may be considered if the benefit to cost ratio is promising. While preference is given to locations with a collision history, in some situations consideration will be given to locations where a hazard can be clearly demonstrated.

Local authorities are asked to submit applications for funding in order of priority and in this context it is up to individual local authorities to prioritise schemes accordingly.

It is also open to Councils to develop pedestrian crossings from their Discretionary grant or from their own resources. 

As regards the impact of new developments, it is for the relevant planning authority to consider planning applications and to decide what conditions should be attached to a planning approval, including traffic management measures where appropriate.