Vol. 484 No. 3
270 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will ensure that road conditions will be of a standard to ensure motor vehicles are not damaged by the roads in view of the introduction of MOT testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22305/97]
The most serious road pavement deficiences on our road system are to be found among non-national roads. The maintenance-improvement of these roads is a matter for local authorities, to be funded from their own resources, supplemented by State grants. In so far as State grants for the non-national network are concerned, I have honoured the Government's commitment to increase funding for the maintenance and improvement of regional and county roads.
As the Deputy will be aware, I secured a record amount of almost £204 million for non-national roads grants for 1998, an increase of £31 million or 18 per cent on the original 1997 allocation. I am satisfied that the present level of funding for non-national roads will result in much improved road pavement conditions for motor vehicles and drivers alike.
