David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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47. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 21 September 2022, the way he exercises his responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55876/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals.

The National Roads Programme is also delivered having regard to the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI), the National Planning Framework, Climate Action Plan and other Government policies.

Approximately €615 million of exchequer capital funds were allocated for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2022. The 2022 funding allocations were made having regard for the NDP, which balances investment in transport against other priorities of Government, such as housing and health over the lifetime of the Plan. It was necessary to prioritise projects for funding in a manner which seeks to achieve key outcomes in line with the NDP.

The 2023 allocations for national roads will be announced in December. Again, these allocations will be made having regard for the NDP, and all national roads projects included in the Plan will be considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. This includes the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton project.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that increased funding will be provided to local authorities such as Cavan and Monaghan county councils for the non-national road network in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55860/22]

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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants, where applicable.

My objective will be to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible taking the length of the road network and traffic factors into account. The main focus of the grants will continue to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

Grant allocations for 2023 will be notified to local authorities early next year.