Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
1396 Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures currently being taken to repair and replace road surfaces in Ireland, especially road markings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18574/12]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.
In January this year, I announced the 2012 Regional and Local Road Grant Allocations under which a total of €379.5 million was made available towards works on regional and local roads, Over 85% of the monies allocated to local authorities were directed towards the maintenance and rehabilitation of road pavements. The restoration of road surfaces would also include for the provision of new road markings as appropriate. Some €225 million has been allocated towards a programme of Restoration Improvement and Maintenance works in County Council areas. A Discretionary Grant of €55 million was made available to county councils and it may be used towards both road repairs and for road markings. Block Grants which total €27.2 million have been allocated towards roads in urban areas. However it should be noted that works on regional and local roads is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources and that the regional and local road grants provided are only intended as a supplement to this own resources expenditure.
