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Road Network

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2014

Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Ceisteanna (187)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Ceist:

187. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to fund a new bridge at Cockhill, Buncrana, County Donegal. [28596/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.  

As the Deputy will be aware, Donegal County Council applied to the Department in 2010 for funding under the Specific Improvement Grant Scheme for funds for the Cockhill Bridge Scheme. The projected cost of the project was €2.95m. The Fianna Fáil government at the time decided not to fund it.

No further formal funding application has been received by my Department since.

Given the need to prioritise funding for repair and strengthening works, the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme was suspended in 2014. While provision may continue to be made for bridge repair and rehabilitation works I understand that the Cockhill Bridge proposal as submitted in 2010 would be outside the scope of such works as it involves major widening works.

It is important to repeat that the role of the Exchequer grant aid is to supplement Councils' own resource spending on regional and local roads.

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