Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
689. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding he will provide for the specific improvement grant scheme in 2016; if he will support the provision of funding for a scheme (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45701/15]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant road authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's 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.
Given the challenging financial climate, the Specific Grants Scheme was curtailed from 2014 in order to maximise the funding available for repair and strengthening work on the existing road network. In this context, it is important to reiterate that the purpose of Exchequer funding is to supplement local authorities' own resources.
I have been emphasising to local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating own resources, including revenue from Local Property Tax receipts.
