Charles Flanagan
Question:52 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of funding available for the maintenance and repair of county roads in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Roads Funding.
Responsibility for the maintenance and repair of county roads rests with the county council concerned and expenditure on such works falls to be financed by the council from its own resources, supplemented by the discretionary grants for this purpose provided annually by my Department. The determination of priorities in the expenditure of these funds, and decisions on the amounts to be spent in particular areas, are matters for the county councils; details of such amounts are not available in my Department.
The discretionary grants for the maintenance of regional and county roads notified to county councils in 1992 totalled £8.95 million. In addition, grants totalling £59.15 million were allocated in 1992 for improvement works on such roads. I hope to be in a position shortly to determine, and to notify local authorities of, the grants for 1993.