Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2022
50. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the capital spend in subhead C3 road improvement and maintenance for 2022 including the amount allocated for new roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13387/22]
View answer54. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of the current spend in subhead C3 road improvement and maintenance for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13391/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 54 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and 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, construction, and operation of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. TII allocated €331m to new National Roads Capital Improvements for 2022, which is available to local authorities. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the spend to date on both new capital projects and road improvement and maintenance for 2022.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply in relation to national roads. 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.
On 15th February this year I announced the details of a €597 million investment package for regional and local roads. The breakdown of the 2022 regional and local road allocations under the subhead C3 Road Improvement and Maintenance are as follows:
|
Subhead |
Amount |
|
C.3.5.1 Regional and Local Current Asset Protection and Renewal |
€45.916 million |
|
C.3.5.2 Regional and Local Capital Asset Protection and Renewal |
€490 million |
|
C.3.6 Regional and Local Capital New Roads/Improvement Works |
€61 million |
