Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
98. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider match funding the local improvement scheme to help deal with the demand for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34298/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scale of the regional and local public road network continues to present a challenge in terms of funding maintenance and improvement.
In this context while the National Development Plan 2018 -2027 provides for a gradual increase in funding for regional and local roads, investment is not yet at the level needed to ensure that the public road network is being maintained adequately. This means that expenditure is still below the amount required to hold the public network in a "steady state" condition and in addition there is a backlog of works. For this reason, grant assistance from the Department continues to be focussed on the maintenance of the public road network.
