Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2016
597. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will liaise with Kildare County Council to identify dangerous and inadequate bridges in the county and to initiate a programme to upgrade, improve, realign or replace them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16011/16]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Kildare (including bridges) is a statutory function of Kildare County Council in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is a matter for the Council.
My Department initiated a regional road bridge inspection programme in 2011 to assess the condition of bridges on the network and this has been followed up with a Bridge Rehabilitation Grant programme. Under the Bridge Rehabilitation Grant scheme local authorities submit a list of bridges in order of priority for consideration for funding. Within the constraints of the overall roads budget, allocations are made to local authorities for remedial bridge works. Kildare County Council was allocated €203,000 for bridge rehabilitation works in 2016.
As regards bridges on national roads, these are managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the relevant local authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 days.
