I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
Details of the 2013 regional and local road grant allocations to Wicklow County Council under the various grant categories and the amounts drawn down to date are outlined in the following table. Details of regional and local road grant allocations and payments to Wicklow County Council in the years 2011 and 2012 can be found in the regional and local road grant allocation and payment booklets for those years, which are available from the Dáil library. The allocations for 2013 are also available in the Dáil Library. It is not possible for me to state, at this point, whether the local authority will draw down all the grant funding available to it under the various headings.
2013 Regional and Local Road Grants
Grant Category
|
2013
Allocation
|
2013 Payment to Date
|
Restoration Improvement
|
€3,226,320
|
€48,942
|
Restoration Maintenance
|
€1,136,450
|
€3,650
|
Discretionary Grant
|
€1,229,800
|
€703,789
|
Winter Maintenance Grant
|
€289,176
|
€289,176
|
Specific Improvement Grant
|
€683,000
|
€96,829
|
Low Cost Safety Improvement
|
€172,000
|
€7,277
|
Training Grant
|
€48,000
|
€0
|
With regard to national roads, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.