Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will devise a scheme to allow funding applications from local authority for road improvements based on traffic data, especially queuing data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54195/22]

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 Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

The major cuts to funding for regional and local roads during the post 2008 recession resulted in the build-up of a substantial backlog of works across the country. The estimated cost of the backlog is in excess of €5 billion. Because of the pressures on the regional and local road network, approximately 90% of available Exchequer grant assistance to local authorities for regional and local roads is being directed to maintenance and renewal works rather than for new roads or for road realignments.

The limited budget available for road improvement projects is focussed on targeted safety/minor works schemes together with the implementation of a number of the larger regional and local road projects which were included in the original National Development Plan and which are now at or near construction. While the business case for these projects do consider traffic data among other criteria, a grant scheme specifically for road improvements related to traffic data is not currently envisaged. However, I would point to the substantial investment being made in sustainable transport options with a view to promoting modal shift.

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to 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, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Projects are also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals.

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.