Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
595. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a proposed relief road (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46036/14]
View answerI have responded to a number of similar questions concerning the Dingle Inner Relief Road, most recently on 4 November (PQ 41564/14). I am happy to again clarify the position regarding this regional road scheme.
The 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 those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
It is important to state that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Kerry County Council in their own resources spending this area. While Councils could apply in the past for grant funding for certain road improvement projects, budgetary constraints mean that the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme has been curtailed in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work of the road network.
It is, of course, open to the Kerry County Council to fund the project from its own resources.
