The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local 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.
Applications for funding under the Department's Safety Improvement Scheme are invited on an annual basis for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of the conditions in relation to applications for funding and are advised that preference will be given to proposals in the cost range €2,000 to €30,000 and that proposals in higher cost ranges, (i.e. €30,000 to €200,000) may be considered if the benefit to cost ratio is promising.
Local authorities are asked to submit applications for funding in order of priority and in this context it is up to individual local authorities to prioritise schemes. Local authorities are informed of allocations under the Safety Improvement Scheme as part of the annual grant award process. The 2019 allocations will be announced early next year.
It is also open to Councils to develop pedestrian crossings from their Discretionary grant or from their own resources.
