Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
945. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); if Kildare County Council has applied for funding for the safety measures referred to or if his Department will provide funding as a matter of urgency for such safety works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19208/14]
View answerThe zebra crossing being referred by the Deputy in this question appears to be on a regional road (R445) and close to the Liffey Bridge in Newbridge. Firstly, 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, in this instance Kildare County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. In January this year, I announced the 2014 regional and local road grant allocations, of which €15.2m was allocated to Kildare County Council for works on regional and local roads. No application was made by the Council for funding under the Low Cost Safety Programme for works at this crossing. The Council may however fund any works that may be required from their own resources or from its Discretionary Grant.
Finally, the management of traffic in a local area is a matter in the first instance for the local authority and I suggest the Deputy therefore takes the matter up with the Council. The enforcement of traffic legislation, including on the safe use of pedestrian crossings is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
