Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021
189. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport his engagements to date with the Minister for Rural and Community Development on funding for the local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33241/21]
View answerEarlier this year the Minister for Rural and Community Development wrote to me in connection with funding for the Local Improvement Scheme and I subsequently had a discussion with the Minister.
Overall, the scale of the regional and local public road network at 96,000 kms continues to present a challenge in terms of funding maintenance and improvement. While the National Development Plan 2018 -2027 provides for a gradual increase in funding for regional and local roads, investment is not yet at the level needed to ensure that the public road network is being maintained adequately. This means that expenditure is still below the amount required to hold the public network in a "steady state" condition and in addition there is a backlog of works.
