Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
824. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding available to run cabling underground on main streets of towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24238/19]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The regional and local road grant programmes funded by my Department are focused on the maintenance, rehabilitation and improvement of regional and local roads. They do not include for the undergrounding of overhead cables which would be considered as street enhancement works and fall broadly within the urban amenity functions of the relevant local authority.
