Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 1

Written Answers. - Flood Relief.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

194 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government when the money promised for flood damage will be allocated to Cork County Council as promised by the then Minister in Parliamentary Question No. 637 of 28 January 1998. [30573/03]

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

The maintenance and improvement of non-national roads is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from the authoritys own resources supplemented by State grants.

In 2003, the total non-national road grant allocation from my Department to Cork county council is €35,958,546, of which a sum of €5,967,000 has been allocated in respect of the grant categories discretionary improvements and maintenance. The council may use these grants, supplemented by its own resources, to fund various works including works on non-national roads, damaged by flooding, storms and other severe weather conditions. Local authorities are reminded each year that a contingency sum should be set aside for this purpose.

This position is consistent with the reply to Question No. 637 of 28 January 1998 which stated that non-national road allocations for that year were intended to provide for the special and ongoing needs of all road authorities, including Cork County Council.