Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Roads Funding.

Denis Naughten

Question:

450 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will approve funding for a submission made by Roscommon County Council to raise the Clonown Road, Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22237/02]

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

Since 1997, non-national road grants to Roscommon County Council have increased by almost 71%. The 2002 allocation of €12.552 million includes a discretionary grant allocation of €2.061 million, which represents an increase of over 38% on the corresponding 2001 allocation.

In principle, the funds available to local authorities for non-national roads maintenance and improvement are designed to cover contingencies arising from flooding, storm damage and other severe weather conditions. My Department's "memorandum on grants for non-national roads" provides that the cost of remedial works necessitated by such conditions must be met from these resources and that local authorities should set aside contingency sums to finance these works.

My Department is also prepared to consider sympathetically any request from local authorities to adjust their current multi-annual restoration programmes so as to prioritise works necessitated by flood damage to particular roads.