Road Projects

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025

Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Ceisteanna (197, 198, 199)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

197. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department plans to increase resources for local authorities to carry out road upgrades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5553/25]

Pa Daly

Ceist:

198. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the amount drawn down by each local authority for road upgrades in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5554/25]

Pa Daly

Ceist:

199. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the amount requested by each local authority for road upgrades in each of the years 2019 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5555/25]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 198 and 199 together.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments. On 14th February 2025 I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million for our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

Any new road projects that seek funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific Improvement and the Strategic Regional and Local Roads Grant Programmes must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and the Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.

As regards the funding allocated to and drawn down by local authorities for road improvement works in each of the years 2019 to 2024, details of the regional and local road allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available on the Oireachtas Digital Library. The 2025 regional and local roads allocations booklet will be lodged in the coming weeks. The 2025 allocations by county can be found at www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/319199/4f12c3fa-1687-48aa-8074-abf1c6974953.pdf#page=null

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation, management and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. National roads allocations for years 2019 -2023 are available at: www.tii.ie/en/tii-library/reports-accounts/. Full details of national roads allocations for 2024 are available on the TII website: www.tii.ie/media/vllac0mr/tii_local-authorities_2024-grant-allocations_final.pdf The Allocations for 2025 are due to be announced in the coming weeks

Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 197.

Question No. 199 answered with Question No. 197.