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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Questions (192, 193)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

192. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the total spend on roads in each of the years 2016 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/20]

View answer

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

193. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the road projects that were funded in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24914/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.

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 Exchequer road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. In the case of the four Dublin Councils, the arrangements in place since 2015 for the retention of Local Property Tax means that these Councils are required to largely self-fund their road programmes.

In relation to Exchequer grants on roads in each of the years 2016 to 2019, details of the regional and local road grant allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

The 2020 regional and local road allocations were announced on 21st January 2020. The table below outlines the grants paid out to the end of August this year.

Local Authority

Spend to end August 2020

Carlow

€1,581,102

Cavan

€4,895,924

Clare

€4,662,196

Cork City

€1,849,594

Cork County

€14,733,849

Donegal

€7,771,702

Dublin City

€14,300

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

€0

Fingal

€0

Galway City

€544,272

Galway County

€12,282,903

Kerry

€8,179,271

Kildare

€4,951,375

Kilkenny

€7,314,240

Laois

€4,050,011

Leitrim

€3,503,826

Limerick

€11,143,445

Longford

€4,005,275

Louth

€1,451,249

Mayo

€11,921,943

Meath

€4,834,370

Monaghan

€1,992,698

Offaly

€2,972,432

Roscommon

€4,471,609

Sligo

€9,104,270

South Dublin

€0

Tipperary

€15,505,208

Waterford

€7,390,656

Westmeath

€3,984,561

Wexford

€8,932,274

Wicklow

€2,636,816

Totals

€166,681,371

In relation to road projects funded in 2019, my Department's grant booklets outline details of grant allocations and payments to each local authority under the grant programmes operated by my Department. For the Deputy's information, the main grant programmes currently in operation are:

Restoration Maintenance (RM): The purpose of the RM grant is to protect the structural integrity of the road by way of surface dressing through the sealing of the road surface. The purpose of restoration maintenance is to maintain the asset before it requires improvement.

Restoration Improvement Grant (RI): The RI grant programme is the main road strengthening programme and caters for surface restoration, pavement overlay works, complete road rehabilitation works and for drainage works where required.

Discretionary Grant (DG): Councils have discretion in spending these grants for improvement and maintenance works subject to selecting from a list of eligible works. However Councils are requested to prioritise projects which involve strengthening works, remedying road defects, winter maintenance and drainage works.

Bridge Rehabilitation (BR): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake bridge rehabilitation works.

Safety Improvement Works (BS): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake safety improvement works.

Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) facilitates community involvement in repair and improvement of roads.

Drainage Programme: The purpose of this grant is to promote network resilience.

A pilot scheme has been implemented to provide assistance to local authorities specifically for the maintenance of Former National (FN) roads.

Specific Grant and Strategic Grants: The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific and Strategic road improvement grant programmes. Instead it considers projects on a case by case basis taking into account the availability of funding and the outcome of project appraisals.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code Guidelines and necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII are best placed to advise on the total spend on National Roads from 2016-2019 and to date in 2020.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
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