Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
884 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the budget he allocates annually by county for the implementation of the European Charter of Pedestrian Rights which has been adopted by various local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26394/06]
View answerThe European Charter of Pedestrian Rights refers to various issues relating to the rights of pedestrians, many of which come under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Transport.
In so far as roads are concerned, responsibility for national roads is a matter for the relevant local authority in conjunction with the National Roads Authority. My Department has no responsibility for funding national roads. The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads, which would include the provision and maintenance of pedestrian facilities on such roads, is a matter for the relevant local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department.
State aid in 2006 for non-national roads, at almost €558 million, is the highest ever level of funding available and represents a very substantial increase of 13% on last year's record allocation, or an increase of almost €62.5 million. The 2006 allocation also represents an increase of 313% on the 1994 allocation and an increase of 154% on the 1997 allocation.
While my Department does not provide specific funding to road authorities for the implementation of the European Charter of Pedestrian Rights, the authorities may use a number of the non-national road grant allocations notified to them annually for the provision, improvement and maintenance of facilities for pedestrians on non-national roads. This includes traffic management measures, low cost safety measures, the provision of pedestrian crossings and road traffic signs, and new and improved footpaths. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded from non-national road grants from my Department is a matter for individual road authorities.
