Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
207. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of additional expenditure which will be required in the next two years to reach a steady state in relation to regional and local roads by year in tabular form. [19070/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of July stimulus funding which has been allocated towards reducing the gap towards a steady state in regional and local roads. [19071/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
The focus of the July Stimulus Plan is on measures to support employment and boost the economy. The Plan includes the provision of €115 million for active travel, public transport and renewal of transport infrastructure. This allocation includes €82 million for measures to improve accessibility, pedestrian infrastructure and support for urban and rural cyclists together €10 million for the adaptation of the regional and local road network to climate change. The Stimulus will allow local authorities to access funding through either the National Transport Authority or my Department's Regional and Local Roads Division.
While the Plan does not provide funding specifically to reduce the "steady state" funding gap, it will support local authorities' overall road maintenance and improvement programmes which include the provision/maintenance of cycleways and footways and the promotion of greater network resilience.
As regards the amount required to bridge the gap in "steady state" funding on the regional and local road network, it is estimated that this year the gap is of the order of €60 million depending on a number variables, including local authority own resource spending on the regional and local network. The position in the next two years will depend on the outcome of the Estimates process for those years and the level of own resources allocated to the maintenance and renewal of the network by local authorities.
