Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
201. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will give further consideration to the issues raised in a motion passed by a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56079/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities' own resources.
In February this year I was delighted to announce an Exchequer investment of €626 million in our regional and local road networks which included an increase in funding of €20 million for road pavement and rehabilitation works.
At the start of 2023 Monaghan County Council were allocated over €16.2 million for regional and local road maintenance and improvement works which was to be used in conjunction with the councils own resources. In recognition of the fact that inflation is having a significant impact on the cost of delivering annual road programmes, local authorities were notified in July of a supplementary allocation of €22.5 million for their key road strengthening programmes. Monaghan County Council was allocated an additional €579,991 under this supplementary allocation.
Monaghan County Council used the State funding to help support an extensive 2023 programme of maintenance and improvement works alongside additional projects such as the N2 to N12 Link road (Monaghan Business Park) which was funded under the Strategic Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme, as well as four projects funded using the Specific Improvement Grant Scheme (Brackly Bridge Replacement; R181 Drumillard to Crossduff; R180/R181 Junction; and L63101 Drumary Bridge Replacement). Funding has also been provided to support a pilot project that examines and monitors the performance of recycled construction materials in pavement projects.
The main regional and local road grant programmes are focussed on three specific policy objectives: surface sealing to protect against water damage; road strengthening to lengthen the life of roads; and a Discretionary Grant scheme which supports a range of activities including pothole repairs, renewal of signs/lines, and winter maintenance. These three grant programmes account for most of the available funding with allocations being based on the length of the road network within a local authority's area of responsibility with some account taken of traffic. It is envisaged that grants will continue to be made available on this basis as it is the most equitable approach.
Apart from a requirement that 15% of the road strengthening budget is spent on regional roads, the allocation of funding to different categories of road is a matter for each individual local authority, having regard to the funding available to it from local and central sources as well as their own particular priorities. Allocations for the 2024 Regional and Local Roads Grant Programmes will be made early in the new year. Funding will continue to be allocated based on the length of the road network within a local authority's area of responsibility and is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources.
