Additional funding needed for rural roads – Brendan Smith TD

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Along with Oireachtas colleagues Senators Diarmuid Wilson, Robbie Gallagher and Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin I attended a meeting of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District on the specific subject of road conditions in South Monaghan.

The Councillors in this Municipal District outlined very clearly the need for additional investment to bring roads up to an acceptable standard.  I have consistently highlighted with the Transport Minister the need for additional funding to be allocated to Cavan and Monaghan Councils for the non-national road network.

Minister Ross in replies to my oral Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann on the 12th of June agreed to my request to visit the constituency and see at first hand the areas of concern that I have highlighted constantly in debates through Parliamentary Questions

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For Written Answer on : 15/05/2018　

Question Number(s): 509 Question Reference(s): 21398/18　

Department: Transport, Tourism and Sport　

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QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if further consideration will be provided to the request for additional funding in respect of the Roadworks Programme 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) Motion passed at Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District in relation to the deteriorating road conditions and the need for additional funding. Additional correspondence emailed to Dept on 10/05/2018 @ 12:19

REPLY

The position remains as outlined to Deputy in response to Parliamentary Questions on 26th April. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council’s own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

I announced the 2018 regional and local road allocations on 29th January and all grant funding available to my Department has now been allocated. It is a matter for each Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme on that basis, taking available grant funding and its own resources into account. There is no additional funding available to my Department at present.