Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 6

Written Answers. - National Roads Funding.

M. J. Nolan

Ceist:

32 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself that the funding being provided to the National Roads Authority is sufficient for them to maintain the national road network to an acceptable standard. [13951/95]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

94 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment the submissions, if any, he has received from the National Roads Authority in relation to the inadequacy of funding for national secondary roads; the dates they were received; and the response given by his Department. [17949/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 94 together.

In 1995, £214 million is being provided by the Exchequer to the National Roads Authority for the improvement and maintenance of national roads — £191 million for improvement works and £23 million for maintenance and management of the network. This total is an increase of 10 per cent on the corresponding 1994 provision and I believe it to be a reasonable one having regard to competing pressures on available resources. The maintenance and management element of the overall provision is up by 8.5 per cent on the figure for 1994.

The strategy and financial plan set out in the Operational Programme for Transport, 1994-1999, provides the framework within which the allocation of grants to individual projects on both national primary and national secondary routes is determined by the National Roads Authority. The Authority has commenced a major study to assess long-term national road development requirements, including an assessment of maintenance requirements. The study will take up to two years to complete and will permit objective assessment of funding requirements for subsequent years.