I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 552 and 554 together.
The improvement of non-national roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by grants provided by my Department. Responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant road authority and the National Roads Authority which operates under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.
Consultants have recently completed a new pavement condition study of non-national roads and a review of pavement management systems for my Department. The study is essentially a needs analysis which is critical to the proper planning of the non-national roads restoration programme over the coming years.
From 1997 to the end of 2004 the total grant assistance provided by my Department in respect of non-national roads was some €2.9 billion. Of this, almost €1.5 billion was paid to local authorities in respect of works under the restoration programme. In 2005, I have allocated of €495.27 million to non-national roads, including €234.222 million to the restoration programme. The 2005 allocation represents the highest level of funding ever provided for non-national roads and is more than double the 1997 allocation.
By the end of this year nearly 80% of the deficient non-national road network identified in the 1996 pavement condition study will have been restored to good condition.
The results of the new study will form an important part of the ongoing process of determining the investment needs of the non-national road network to address the impact of traffic volume growth. I am currently considering the results of the study and how best to implement the recommendations. I intend to announce road grant allocations for 2006 in respect of non-national roads early in the new year.