Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2012
730 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent, if any, to which he had had discussions with the various local authorities with a view to identifying the priorities in respect of funding for local or minor roads other than those for which the National Roads Authority has responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32397/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra731 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that funding to local authorities is sufficient to meet their needs in respect of main, county or other minor roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32398/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 731 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.
Since 1997, over €6.8 billion has been provided by the Exchequer to local authorities for works on regional and local roads. These funds were in addition to local authorities own contributions.
State funding to assist local authorities to maintain regional and local roads is apportioned as equitably as possible on the basis of factors such as route lengths and population densities. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded on regional and local roads is a matter for the relevant local authority. Indeed, local authorities have considerable leeway, within their respective allocations, to direct funding to those works they consider most appropriate taking all local factors into account.
In the current financial circumstances my priority is to protect previous investment in the roads network and ensure that the distribution of available funding is done in the most targeted manner possible. In this context my Department is supporting the use by local authorities of pavement management systems to identify priorities for future road works on the regional and local road network.
Question No. 732 answered with Question No. 125.
