Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the breakdown of roads funding for local authorities in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35692/20]

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 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 allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The tables included in the allocations and payments booklets outline expenditure by type of grantprogramme. 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.

Community Involvement Scheme (CIS)facilitates community involvement in the repair and improvement of roads.

Drainage Programme: The purpose of this grant is to promote network resilience.

A scheme has been implemented to provide assistance to local authorities specifically for the maintenance of Former National (FN) roads.

Specific Grant and Strategic Grants: The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific and Strategic road improvement grant programmes. Instead it considers projects on a case by case basis taking into account the availability of funding and the outcome of project appraisals.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. The planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code Guidelines and necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII are best placed to advise on the breakdown of funding.

Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. I ask her to advise my private office if she does not receive a reply within 10 working days.