The discretionary grant allocations (including restoration programme grants) to county councils for the improvement and maintenance of non-national roads are allocated on a pro-rata mileage basis with some limited special provision for the special needs of particular areas. This is consistent with the approach adopted in the determination of these allocations over the years. Other strands of non-national roads funding are projectbased; projects are selected having regard to the EU eligibility criteria governing these schemes, the merits of the projects submitted for consideration by different authorities, and the competing demands from different areas on the limited funds available.
The consultants' report on the condition of the road pavement on non-national roads in county council areas is expected to be completed by the end of February. The report will establish the cost of eliminating the backlog of deficiencies on the regional and local road network in these areas and will allow funds for removing the backlog to be more directly related to needs. However, road mileage will continue to be a relevant criterion in determining overall grant allocations to individual county councils.