I propose to take Questions Nos. 868 to 881, inclusive, together.
The carrying out of improvements to non-national roads, including road speed reduction measures, is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department.
The Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced by my Department in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority (NRA). The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of my Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on accident data, inspection of sites, locations showing demonstrable hazard and discussions between the local authority and the NRA. Meath County Council submitted seven applications to my Department for consideration for funding under this scheme in 2006, but these did not include any of the locations referred to in the Question. Four of the seven applications submitted by the Council have received grants totalling €133,919 in 2006.
My Department will again be seeking applications under the Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants later this year and it will be open to Meath Council to submit applications for consideration for funding under this scheme in 2007.
Local authorities may also use their own resources, as supplemented by my Department's Discretionary Improvement grant, to fund speed reduction measures. In 2006 the total Discretionary Improvement grant allocation to Meath County Council is €798,000. The prioritisation of works to be funded from this grant allocation is a matter for Meath County Council.