Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
407. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the details of the terms and conditions for the draw down of his Departments safety improvement scheme and regional roads grants by local authorities; the checks that are in place to ensure that the works are completed and that value for money is achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20739/22]
View answerThe 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. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
€10 million approximately in grant support has been allocated this year for lower cost safety improvement works schemes on regional and local roads where the cost of individual projects does not exceed €200,000.
Applications for funding under my Department’s Safety Improvement Scheme are invited on an annual basis for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. In submitting projects for consideration, local authorities are required to set out the collision history of the works site and outline how the proposed project should reduce accidents or address a hazard. Applications are reviewed and assessed by the Department's Engineering Inspectorate prior to allocations being finalised.
As regards the drawdown of grant allocations, the Memorandum on Grants for Regional and Local Roads provides information on, and defines the conditions governing the allocation and payment of monies to local authorities in respect of all grant programmes for regional and local roads.
