I propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 731 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.
Since 1997, over €6.8 billion has been provided by the Exchequer to local authorities for works on regional and local roads. These funds were in addition to local authorities own contributions.
State funding to assist local authorities to maintain regional and local roads is apportioned as equitably as possible on the basis of factors such as route lengths and population densities. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded on regional and local roads is a matter for the relevant local authority. Indeed, local authorities have considerable leeway, within their respective allocations, to direct funding to those works they consider most appropriate taking all local factors into account.
In the current financial circumstances my priority is to protect previous investment in the roads network and ensure that the distribution of available funding is done in the most targeted manner possible. In this context my Department is supporting the use by local authorities of pavement management systems to identify priorities for future road works on the regional and local road network.
Question No. 732 answered with Question No. 125.