asked the Minister for the Environment the action he proposes to take to improve the condition of main and county roads throughout the country with particular reference to County Kildare; if he will allocate extra funds to enable this work to be carried out in the coming year; if he is satisfied with the present condition of these roads; if the public can expect visible improvements in the condition of such roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Road Improvements.
130.
Primary responsibility for the networks of non-national main and county roads rests with the local authorities. Under existing arrangements, the cost of works on these roads falls to be financed by a combination of local resources and State road grants, including the block grant, the county road strengthening grant and special improvement grants.
The extent to which local resources are used for roadworks is a matter for determination by the local authority. Because of my concern about the condition of county roads, the provision for the county road strengthening grant for 1987 was £15 million compared with £5 million in 1986. A further £15 million has been provided for 1988 and I have allocated £19.5 million for county road strengthening in 1989. This grant may also be used, at the discretion of local authorities, for strengthening works on non-national main roads. I have also decided to allocate £500,000 next year for improvement works on access roads to forests.
In the case of Kildare County Council, the road grant allocations for county and non-national main roads in 1988 total £1.204 million, which is 18 per cent greater than the amount paid under the corresponding grants in 1987.
Detailed information about the condition of the network of county roads together with estimates of the level of investment required to remedy deficiencies in the network, was received from all county councils in response to a departmental circular letter issued in May 1987. This information is being considered in the context of the proposed blueprint for road development. The blueprint will outline future policy on non-national main and county roads.