Vol. 364 No. 1
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allocate extra funds to local authorities in the North-Eastern Regional Development Organisation region in recognition of the regional routes in the north-east and the need for allocations for improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
55.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will agree that the North-Eastern Regional Development Organisation report has established that there has been an inadequacy of road fund allocation in the north-eastern region in the context of the major reconstruction work required; the plans he has in this regard; if he will agree with the recommendation of the North-Eastern Regional Development Organisation report in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together. I am aware of the road needs in this area as a result of examinations carried out by my Department, working in co-operation with local authorities and with the assistance of detailed studies of traffic patterns, road condition and road needs undertaken by An Foras Forbartha and of various traffic and transportation studies. I am satisfied, however, that local authorities in the north-east region have received a reasonable share of the State funds that have been available for road works.
The Government's road development policy for the country as a whole is set out in the road plan which was published in January 1985. The strategy for implementation of this policy and the manner of financing of the policy are outlined in chapter 3 of the plan. The plan takes into account the foregoing studies and consultations.
The programme of major projects listed in the plan to be commenced and/or completed during the period 1985-87 includes a proposed by-pass of Dunleer, County Louth, and improvements at Corlatt, County Monaghan, both of which are scheduled to commence this year, together with phase II of the Dundalk inner relief road which is currently under construction. These three schemes involve a State expenditure of approximately £21 million. The plan also contains a tentative list of major projects for the period after 1987 including, in the north-east region, major improvements between Balbriggan and Dunleer and between Dundalk and the Northern Ireland Border, together with proposed bypasses-inner relief routes at Cavan, Carrickmacross and Monaghan.
The road grant allocations to the local authorities in the north-east region this year amount to £9.764 million, which represents an increase of 15 per cent to the level of grant payments to these authorities in 1985.
Primary responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of regional roads, including the provision of the necessary finance, rests with the local authorities. The authorities may, however, at their own discretion, use the block grant for roads to supplement expenditure from their own resources for works on regional roads (as well as for works on county road improvements and traffic management measures). The 1986 block grant allocations to the local authorities in the north-east region with responsibility for regional roads amount to £1.363 million, which represents an increase of 31 per cent compared with grant payments under this heading for 1985. In addition, special grant commitments totalling £464,000 have been notified to these authorities in the current year for strengthening works on regional roads.
It is not possible at this stage to allocate additional roads grants to any local authority, because the funds available in 1986 have been fully allocated.
