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Road Improvement Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2012

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Questions (268)

Tom Fleming

Question:

268. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider reintroducing some form of local improvement scheme funding in the budget 2013; his views on whether suspending this scheme was yet another blow to rural Ireland; if he will take in consideration that a drainage works and surface dressing was carried out by the local authority with a contribution from residents and land owners; his views on the fact that the cost now involved makes it impossible for many families and persons to have their roads resurfaced; if his attention has been drawn to the fact there are hundreds of such roads in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46581/12]

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Written answers

State grants available to supplement expenditure by local authorities on the maintenance of regional and local roads have been reduced significantly and there will be further cuts over the next few years.  The scale of the cuts have necessitated that some grant programmes be curtailed or ended.   In making adjustments to the regional and local roads allocations the primary aim has been, as far as is possible, to protect previous investment in the road network and use the  available funding to maintain and restore public roads, including those in rural areas.  Given that priority, it was not possible this year to assist with any works on private roads.  The feasibility of providing funding to assist with maintenance of private roads will be reviewed in the context of the monies available under the 2013 grant allocations for regional and local roads. In the interim, it is open to local authorities to continue to operate the scheme or a similar scheme from their own resources and I am sure they will do if they consider it to be a good use of limited resources.

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