Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
202. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to designating the R312 in Mayo as a strategic regional road; if he will provide the funding required to upgrade the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15651/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Councils' 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.
The Department has provided funding to Mayo County Council for the road re-alignment and bridge replacement scheme at Glenisland on the R312 which was completed at the end of 2021.
Mayo County Council received an allocation of €30,000 this year under the Specific Improvement Grant Programme to progress the planning and design of the second phase of proposed works at Glenisland on the R312.
Additionally, the Council received €350,000 this year under the Strategic Rehabilitation Regional Roads Grant for the R312. This grant seeks to target the protection and rehabilitation of highly trafficked wide former national roads and similar strategic regional roads which are in poor condition but not suitable to the regular restoration programme.
Under the Roads Act 1993, S10(1) it is a function of the Minister for Transport to order the classification of national and regional roads, whereas it is a function of the local authority, to declare and classify local roads. There is no statutory road classification termed ‘Strategic Regional Road’ under the Roads Act 1993.
