Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 December 2013
237. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Department will co-fund, with Kildare County Council, the upgrade of a junction (details supplied) in County Kildare; if it is possible to build a roundabout at the junction instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53458/13]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act ,1993. Works on these roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for local authorities.
Up to now local authorities could apply for grant funding for projects such as this under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme. However, due to the need to focus available funding on the repair and strengthening of the road network, the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is being wound down.
It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement the resources of Councils like Kildare County Council. It is, therefore, open to the Council to fund this project from its own resources.
