Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
125. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be made available to Kerry County Council for emergency works at Lisheen junction at the four-crossroads junction of Lisheen and Gneeveguilla, given there have been several serious accidents at this junction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22204/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
Applications for funding under my Department’s Safety Improvement Scheme are invited on an annual basis for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of this and are asked to submit applications in order of priority. As Kerry County Council is responsible for maintaining and improving its regional and local roads, it is the Council's responsibility to determine its priorities and work programme while taking account of the funding provided from grant allocations and from the Council's own resources. The Department sought applications in Q3 of 2023 for consideration for funding under several works programmes on regional and local roads to be carried out by local authorities in 2024. The schemes for inclusion in the applications are decided by the local authorities. According to my Department's records, an application was not received from Kerry County Council for works on the Lisheen junction at the four cross-roads junction of Lisheen and Gneeveguilla.
