Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 1

Written Answers. - Roads Funding.

Michael Finucane

Question:

187 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the damage done to county roads is as a result of the transportation of logs from forests; the contribution, if any, which is made from the Department of Agriculture and Food in seeking funding in respect of the improvement of those county roads of particular importance to forestry; the finance, if any, which was made available in the years 1995 and 1996 in this regard; the finance, if any, which is available in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15620/97]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

It is recognised that the transportation of timber from forests is a contributory factor in damage caused to non-national roads. Draft guidelines recently published by my Department on forestry development refer to the question and recommend that planning authorities should take account of these impacts when determining their strategy for the provision and improvement of roads. As roads are generally multi-purpose and support a wide range of economic activities, including forestry, much of the State grants provision for non-national roads benefits the forestry sector. Such payments to county councils amounted to £115.877 million in 1995 and £134.503 million in 1996. Grant allocations in 1997 amount to £165 million.

Forestry is one of the sectors for which provision is made under the EU co-financed scheme of specific improvement grants for non-national roads. Grants totalling £2,573,343 and £2,174,700 were paid to county councils for projects of relevance to the forestry sector in 1995 and 1996 respectively, and the 1997 allocation to such projects under this scheme is £3,095,450.