Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
259. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if adequate additional resources will be provided to local authorities to enable them carry out essential road gritting works on all local and national routes during extreme weather conditions as experienced recently (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1539/25]
View answerAs 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 and management 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.
Exchequer funding is allocated to local authorities through TII on an annual basis for the maintenance of the existing national road network, including winter maintenance. The allocations for 2025 will be announced in the near future.
With regards to Regional and Local roads, under the Department's Discretionary Grant, Councils have the discretion to use grant funding for eligible winter maintenance works. In this context it is a matter for each Council to determine its winter road treatment programme including the prioritisation of routes for salting/gritting.
