Brendan Howlin
Question:67 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment the extra financial provision he has made following his meeting with county engineers regarding the condition of our roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Roads Action Programme.
Joe Sherlock
Question:76 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the content of his recent discussions with local authorities regarding an immediate action programme to deal with potholes; the estimated number of potholes on Irish roads currently needing attention; the extra funds or resources which are being made available to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Michael Ferris
Question:77 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any plans to allocate additional funding to county councils following his recent meeting with county engineers.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 76 and 77 together.
The meeting which I had on 12 April last with city and county engineers was one of a series of periodic meetings which I have with these officials. Topics such as the condition of non-national roads, the efficiency of discretionary road grant expenditure and emergency road maintenance were discussed. The engineers agreed to expedite finalisation of a code of practice for emergency repairs and as to the futility of attempting to carry out such repairs when weather conditions were unfavourable. They undertook to carry out a crash programme to deal with the backlog of urgent repairs in the coming weeks as weather conditions improve.
In 1989, the Government recognised the serious deterioration in the condition of non-national roads, especially regional and county roads, and made a commitment that £150 million would be provided over three years in discretionary grants to county councils for these roads. This commitment has more than been fulfilled; in fact, total grants over the three years will amount to £182.4 million, including £3.755 million in extra storm/flood grants notified to local authorities on 3 May 1990.
Total discretionary grants for 1991 are £68.13 million and have already been notified to local authorities. These absorb in full the funds available to me for this purpose in 1991.