Road Improvement Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2018

Wednesday, 19 September 2018

Questions (122)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

122. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding available for local authorities to upgrade class 2 and 3 roads in 2018; the funding available to local authorities to upgrade roads in circumstances in which residents are not willing or able to contribute the 15% needed to allow the community involvement scheme to progress; if it could be considered that funding under CIS and CLÁR for school car parks and school playgrounds could be transferred to the Department of Education and Skills to allow for more funding for local and regional public roads in need of repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37967/18]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, 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.

Regional and local road grants are allocated by programme not category of road. Details of the 2018 regional and local road grant allocations to local authorities are available from the Dáil library.

As regards the Community Involvement Scheme (CIS), €10m ring-fenced funding has been provided to local authorities in 2018 for CIS. The CIS is based on community contributions within the range of 15% to 30% and the purpose of the CIS is to facilitate local community participation in the repair of local roads. The focus of the programme is on the repair of more lightly trafficked public roads not school car parks or school playgrounds.

As regards roads where local contributions are not available, it is for the relevant local authority to consider repairs to such roads as part of its annual roadworks programme.  

I have no function in relation to the CLÁR programme. The programme is administered by the Department of Community and Rural Development.