Written answers
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Road Projects
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he intends to allocate funding from his Department’s €97 million surplus for road maintenance; how much of that will be allocated to Kildare County Council, which, in response to representations made by this Deputy, has stated that it has nothing in the budget to fix a very badly deteriorated and pot-holed section of road in Monasterevin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30213/23]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Concerning additional investment for Regional and Local Roads from the Q1 underspend, as I do not expect a significant underspend to arise by year end, I cannot sanction re-allocating funds within the budget at this point. In February this year I announced an Exchequer investment of €626million in our regional and local roads across the State which includes an increase in funding of €20 million for road pavement and rehabilitation works.
Within the budget available for the regional and local road grant programme, the objective is to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible taking the length of the road network into account. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network. It should be noted that Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources. As the statutory road authorities for their areas, it is open to local authorities to prioritise investment in regional and local roads.
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