asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to improve roads and access-ways to lakes and rivers in Cavan/Monaghan to help develop the great potential for tourism in this region.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Cavan/Monaghan Road Improvements.
38.
As the public roads in question would generally be non-national roads, responsibility for their improvement rests with the local authorities concerned. Under existing arrangements, the cost of works on these roads falls to be financed by a combination of local authority resources and State road grants. The extent to which local authority resources are used for road works is a matter for determination by the local authorities.
Because of my concern about the condition of non-national public roads, I have made substantial increases in the levels of road grant funding for them since 1987. The 1989 discretionary road grants allocations notified for regional and county roads to county councils amount to £47.4 million, compared with £33.4 million in 1988 and £23.0 million in 1986. The £47.4 million is the first instalment of the three year programme of works on regional and county roads which I announced earlier this year. The programme, covering the period 1989 to 1991, will cost £150 million in discretionary State road grants.
The 1989 discretionary road grant allocations notified to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council for regional and county roads amount to £1.528 million and £1.299 million, respectively. The development of proposals for expenditure of these grants is primarily a matter for the local authorities concerned.
As regards other access ways to lakes and rivers, this work is appropriate to the amenity grants scheme. However, all available funds have already been allocated.