Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
419. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the specific funding available to upgrade the Portsalon to Fanad Head road in County Donegal; if a request has been received by his Department from the relevant authorities for funding and-or supports to be made available in order to carry out improvement works on the section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38518/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in County Donegal is the statutory responsibility of Donegal County Council, 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 also a matter for the local authority. My Department has no grant application on hand in relation to the upgrade of the Portsalon to Fanad Head road.
Given the cutbacks in State funding for regional and local roads since the financial crisis, it has been necessary to curtail the grant programme for major new regional and local road schemes and for major realignment schemes in order to protect the funding available for the maintenance of the existing network. The bulk of the funding allocated under the capital plan is, therefore, earmarked for the maintenance and renewal of the road network with some limited investment in the new projects.
