Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a report on proposals for the continued realignment of the R572 from the N71 to Castletownbere fishing port; if EU funding is available for these necessary improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23558/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) 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 local authorities' 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.

Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Strategic Grant Programme are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and the Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF). Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

As required under the project appraisal guidelines, an initial appraisal has been received from Cork County Council concerning the proposed realignment of the R572 at Adrigole. Following consideration of this submission by the Department, Cork County Council has been advised that further work is required on the project appraisal. The application for funding will be further considered once a revised appraisal is received. As part of the project funding appraisal form local authorities are required to outline proposed sources of funding for a scheme. In the case of the Adrigole scheme Cork County Council has indicated that it is seeking 100% funding from my Department. Possible alternative sources of funding would be for the Council to explore but as regards the regional and local roads grant programme operated by my Department, there is no funding available under an EU funding programme at present.