Written answers
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Road Projects
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 9 September 2024, if unspent funding allocated to a project in Kerry (details supplied) from 2019 to 2024 is still available to Kerry County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45361/24]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments.
Any new road projects that seek funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. Kerry County Council have a number of new roads projects in construction and planning. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and the Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. 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.
In this regard, it is my understanding that Kerry County Council are currently examining options for Listry Bridge, considering the needs and objectives, and deciding how best to progress to ensure value for money within existing budgets.
Allocations are notified to local authorities each year and the drawdown of the funding allocation for a project in any particular year is a matter for the local authority.
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