Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
350. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding and works are required to address a flooding problem at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18558/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council.
All grant funding available to my Department has been allocated for this year, including specific funding for drainage works.
As regards grants for improvement works, these grants were curtailed during the recession and while the current Capital Plan does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network it will take some years yet to reach the level required for the adequate maintenance and renewal of the network. For this reason there continues to be limited scope for funding improvement projects under the Specific/Strategic Grant Programmes. Any projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under these Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis with the main focus on larger scale safety improvement and bridge rehabilitation projects. Such projects are subject to appraisal as required in the Public Spending Code and the Department’s Capital Appraisal Framework.
It is a matter for each local authority to assess its priorities and draw up a roadworks programme based on the State grant funding and own resources available to it. I continue to emphasise to local authorities the importance of prioritising expenditure on roads when allocating their own resources.
