Vol. 508 No. 1
550 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress, if any, made following his request to all road authorities in August 1998 reminding them of the need to bring signage up to the standards set out in the traffic signs manual as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17266/99]
Individual road authorities are directly responsible for the provision, maintenance and funding of signposting and roadway markings on non-national roads, either through their own resources and/or through discretionary grants made available by my Department. Approximately £23 million has been allocated to county councils in discretionary grants this year, while the discretionary block grant allocation to urban authorities is £13.9 million, including £4.2 million for a programme of footpath and carriageway repairs. Overall this represents an increase of 23 per cent over 1998 in the level of discretionary finance for non-national roads being made available to local authorities. In addition, local authority own resource provision for non-national roads in 1999 is estimated at almost £84 million.
The purpose of the circular letter which issued to all road authorities in August 1998 was to remind them of the importance of providing and maintaining a high standard of road signage in the interests of road safety and to ensure that road users receive necessary information clearly and in good time. Accordingly, road authorities were requested to carry out a detailed review of signage in their functional areas and to put in place plans to bring signage up to the standards set out in the traffic signs manual as soon as possible. It was not intended that my Department should exercise supervision of this process, but that it should be taken forward through the ongoing and expanding operation of the non-national roads programme.
