Johnny Mythen
Question:106. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Transport the status of road improvement works funding for County Wexford. [15540/21]
View answerWednesday, 24 March 2021
Questions (106, 291)
Johnny Mythen
Question:291. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Transport the amount and percentage of the regional and local road grant allocation drawn down by Wexford County Council in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form. [14443/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 291 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from 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 Council.
As regards the amount and percentage of the regional and local road grant allocation drawn down by Wexford County Council in each of the years 2015 to 2020, 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.
As regards the status of road improvement works funding for County Wexford, the tables included in the allocations and payments booklets outline expenditure by type of grant programme. 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.
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): The programme facilitates community involvement in repair and improvement of roads.
Drainage Programme: The purpose of this grant is to promote network resilience.
Former National Roads (FN): The purpose of this grant it to provide assistance to local authorities specifically for the maintenance of former national roads.
Specific Grant and Strategic Grants: The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of the Specific and Strategic 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.
The table below outlines the 2021 grant allocations for Wexford County Council.
|
Grant Allocations |
Wexford County Council |
|
Restoration Improvement |
€9,508,000 |
|
Restoration Maintenance |
€1,591,000 |
|
Supplementary Restoration Maintenance |
€1,136,500 |
|
Discretionary Grant |
€3,056,000 |
|
Bridge Rehabilitation |
€464,000 |
|
Safety Improvement Works |
€328,000 |
|
Specific Imp. Grants |
€100,000 |
|
Cycle Signs |
€16,000 |
|
Former National Roads |
€300,000 |
|
Active Travel |
€362,998 |
|
Climate Adaptation |
€30,000 |
|
Training Grant |
€90,000 |
|
Drainage Works |
€744,632 |
|
PSCI: Survey Support |
€28,000 |
|
Community Improvement Scheme |
€814,000 |
|
Total Allocation |
€18,569,130 |
In addition applications are currently being sought from Councils in relation to climate adaptation measures. This follows on from the July 2020 Stimulus Plan funding.