Firstly, I would like to explain that 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. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.
Meath County Council were allocated a total of €200,000 in 2012 towards the R156 Dunboyne — Summerhill Road Improvement Scheme and I understand that the works to be undertaken from Jenkinstown to Mullagh Cross are part of this project. The council were provided with a total of €49,560 for the R156 Dunboyne — Summerhill project in 2011 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme.
It is open to Meath County Council to continue to prioritise this project and to submit it to the National Roads Authority (NRA) for consideration for funding under the 2013 Specific Improvement Grants Scheme when applications are sought by them later in the year. The NRA will then make recommendations to my Department in relation to the 2013 grant allocations based on the applications received from all local authorities.