The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.
Circulars, relating to regional and local roads, have been issued to all local authorities earlier this year inviting applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the various Grant Schemes. All applications are being considered currently and will be assessed having regard to the eligibility criteria, the need to prioritise projects, competing demands from other local authorities and the reduced funding available to my Department to assist local authorities in 2013.
I intend to announce the 2013 regional and local road grant allocations early in the new year.