Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2019
403. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received a request from the local authority for funding to upgrade Castlefinn Bridge in County Donegal; if so, the details of the project plans; if his attention has been drawn to the need to deliver this project in view of the state of the structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48611/19]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) in Donegal is the statutory responsibility of Donegal County Council, 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.
Applications for funding under the Department's Bridge Rehabilitation Scheme are invited on an annual basis for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of the conditions and are asked to submit applications in order of priority. Donegal County Council recently submitted its bridge rehabilitation funding application and Castlefinn Bridge was not included in this application. The Department will examine applications from all local authorities and Councils will be notified of their allocations early in the new year.
Larger scale bridge upgrade works fall under the Specific Grant category and applications need to comply with project appraisal requirements. A Specific Grant application has not been received in relation to Castlefinn Bridge.
It is important to reiterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement local authorities in their spending in this area and it is open to Donegal County Council to fund work on this bridge from its own resources.
