Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018
1402. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); if a meeting will be facilitated on the matter; if so, the date for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55171/17]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The maintenance of the national road network is the responsibility of Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its overall budget, the assessment and prioritisation of expenditure is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
The position in relation to budgets for 2018 is that TII's current expenditure budget has been reduced by about €6 million compared to the 2017 outturn while its capital budget has been increased by about €35 million to €434 million.
As regards the allocation of resources under particular expenditure headings, such as ordinary maintenance, this is a matter for decision by TII. In this context I understand that TII explained the basis of the 2018 allocations to local authorities in advance of notifying them of their 2018 allocations.
As regards regional and local roads, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the maintenance of roads within its area. Works on regional and local roads are funded by local authorities' own resources supplemented by State grants. While there is a reduction of about €8 million in current funding budget for 2018, there is a significant increase in capital funding to approx. €381 million.
I will be notifying local authorities of their grant allocations shortly. As in previous years I will be aiming to allocate funding on as equitable basis as possible taking road lengths within each local authority area into account.
As regards a possible meeting, I suggest that Monaghan County Council contact my Office.
