Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which his Department supports Dublin local authorities in planning and delivering local road infrastructure beyond direct grants; if there are plans to review this support model to better reflect the scale and complexity of urban transport needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22046/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

TII operates on a Regional Management Structure. There is a Regional Manager assigned to the four Dublin Local Authorities as well as Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. The Regional Manager and Senior Engineering Inspector responsible for this region support the progression of TII funded National Roads and Greenway capital projects. This includes regular engagement with the relevant Local Authorities, monitoring progress and funding and promoting delivery in line with TII processes and standards.

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.

As outlined in the 2025 Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. Grants are primarily directed to local authorities outside Dublin. The four Dublin Authorities, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal, South Dublin and Dublin City, are required to self-fund their normal road works programmes as a result of these Councils’ Local Property Tax receipts. Accordingly, these Councils do not feature in most of the grant programmes but are eligible for training grants and may apply for monies under the Strategic Grant programme and certain miscellaneous grants. The implementation of their annual road maintenance programmes is therefore the responsibility of each Council and I have no role in this process.