Skip to main content
Normal View

Road Improvement Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Questions (1052)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

1052. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a detailed design has been carried out by Galway County Council and submitted to TII for funding on the R333 at Claretuam; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24690/18]

View answer

Written answers

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. TII's remit relates to national roads not regional and local roads.

Works on regional and local roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by road grants provided by my Department. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each Council.

My Department's regional and local road grant programmes include the Bridge Rehabilitation Grant scheme and the Safety Improvement Works scheme. Under both programmes local authorities submit a list of projects in order of priority for consideration for funding. Within the constraints of the overall roads budget, allocations are then made to local authorities. The grant allocation to Galway County Council this year includes €100,000 for Bridge Rehabilitation works at Coheenaheeny, Headford on the R333, and €25,000 for Safety Improvement works at Crossura Junction on R333 (main Tuam to Headford road) with the L6134.

As regards any proposal for upgrading the R333 near Claretuam, before the financial crisis, local authorities could apply on a regular basis for grants for Specific Improvement Grants for the strengthening, widening or realignment of rural roads, including bridges, where the proposed scheme cost generally less than €5 million. However, the extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the crisis meant this grant scheme had to be curtailed after 2013 because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.

The Capital Plan does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but it will take some years yet to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason there is limited scope at present for funding projects under the Specific Grant Programme.

Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific Grant Programme are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework and it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

Top
Share