Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total spend on local and national roads by county in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and the budget allocation for 2021. [34125/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 Exchequer road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. In the case of the four Dublin Councils, the arrangements in place since 2015 for the retention of Local Property Tax means that these Councils are required to largely self-fund their road programmes.

In relation to Exchequer grants on roads in each of the years 2018 and 2019, details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The table below outlines the grants paid out to the end of October this year.

Allocations for 2021 will be decided as part of the general grant allocation process.

In relation to expenditure on national roads, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding for the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, development and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.TII is, therefore, responsible for the distribution of funds under the Capital Programme for the implementation of the national roads programme.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.