Vol. 520 No. 1
273 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, under present funding, it will take at least 17 years to carry out restructuring work on local county roads in County Monaghan; if he will make additional funds available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15207/00]
The ten year restoration programme for non-national roads has as its aim the restoration of all local and regional roads in county council areas over the life of the programme, i.e. by the end of 2005. The programme is on target and is progressing systematically on the basis of priorities identified by local authorities in their multi-annual programmes.
The 2000 allocation for the restoration programme is £147.4 million which represents a 58% increase on the 1997 initial allocation of £93.33 million. Monaghan County Council's restoration programme allocation in 2000 is £5.383 million, which is a 54% increase on the 1997 initial allocation of £3.485 million. During the same period the council's non-national road grant allocation under all categories has been increased by 39% from £5.933 million to £8.269 million.
I am satisfied that this increased level of central funding, supplemented by the council's own resources, is providing adequately for the ongoing maintenance and improvement needs of the council's non-national road network and will assist in its systematic and accelerated improvement.
