Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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179. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on road maintenance in each year since 1992 by local, regional and national roads. [17179/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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.  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.  Most of the expenditure allocated for regional and local roads under the National Development Plan is being directed towards road maintenance and renewal.  For example, this year Exchequer funding  of €483 million is being invested  and €65 million of that is for the Strategic and Specific road improvement programmes.  It is also the case that, within the amount of €65 million, that €15.6 million earmarked for the smaller scale road improvement schemes includes provision for bridge rehabilitation and safety schemes.

 As regards national roads, within its annual budget, allocations to individual local authorities is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).  I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's Question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.