Allocations for Cavan and Monaghan for Non National Roads – Brendan Smith TD

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed the allocation of €15.5 Million for Cavan County Council and €16 Million to Monaghan County Council for the Non National Roads Network Programme for 2021.

This funding will enable improvement works to be carried out throughout all of both counties and there are some specific grant allocations including bridge repairs, specific safety works and an allocation of €130,000 towards the East/West Road.  This will enable further preparatory work to be carried out on this much needed project.

Major investment is needed in our road network in both Cavan and Monaghan as the condition of many roads in both counties had deteriorated in recent years.

I have continuously highlighted this important issue to successive Transport Ministers and below is a Dáil reply of last week.

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For Written Answer on : 11/02/2021
Question Number(s): 55 Question Reference(s): 7843/21
Department: Transport
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION


To ask the Minister for Transport when he plans to make the allocations to local authorities in respect of the 2021 non-national roads programme; if he will ensure a substantial increase in the allocations to Cavan and Monaghan county councils in view of the particular importance of the road network in both counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY


The 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 local authorities’ own resources supplemented by State road grants.

Following the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV), the allocation for regional and local roads in 2021 is €555 million approximately – €46m Current and €509m Capital.

My objective will be to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible taking the length of the road network and traffic factors into account.  The main focus of the grants will continue to be maintenance and renewal of the regional and local road network.

Grant allocations for 2021 are being notified to local authorities this week.