Vol. 528 No. 2
167 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amount of money that has been provided for the restoration and maintenance of county and regional roads for each of the past ten years on a county by county basis; his views on whether the present level of funding in this regard is sufficient; if he allocate additional funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30096/00]
I refer to my Department's publication State Grants to Local Authorities for National, Non-National and Non-Public Accommodation Roads and Own Resources Expenditure by Local Authorities on National and Non-National Roads in the period 1989-1999, which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
The ten year restoration programme for non-national roads has as its aim the restoration of all local and regional roads in county council areas by end 2005. The programme is generally on target and is progressing systematically on the basis of priorities identified by local authorities in their multi-annual programmes.
I am satisfied that the significantly increased level of State funding provided in recent years, supplemented by county council's own resources, is providing adequately for the ongoing maintenance and improvement needs of the non-national road network and will assist in its systematic and accelerated improvement.
I will be announcing the non-national road grant allocations for 2001 early in the new year and further substantial funding will be provided for the improvement of the non-national road network.
