Brendan Smith urges summer reallocation for regional roads
Brendan Smith urged the department to prioritise reallocation of any mid-year underspend to regional and local roads, laneways and Local Improvement Schemes. He called for timely notification to local authorities so they can deploy funding over the summer and stressed the importance of the non-national road network.
Request to review mid-year public capital expenditure profile
Brendan Smith said he expects the department to review the mid-year public capital expenditure profile imminently and again urged that any underspend in departments or statutory agencies be reallocated to much-needed investment in regional and local roads and in laneways.
Summer reallocation to benefit communities
He argued that a reallocation to local authorities during the summer can bring benefits to many communities and households, and that priority should be attached to local and regional roads to maximise the impact of any redirected funding.
Local authority capacity and timely notice
Brendan Smith noted that local authorities will have the construction capacity to spend more money once they are notified in good time, and that taxpayer funding can be put to good use in the best interests of communities in every county.
Cost pressures and contract reform
He highlighted that resurfacing works are currently costly because bitumen is an oil-based product and particularly expensive. He said the reform of the public works contract, including provisions on energy, will be important to ensure a comprehensive road resurfacing and maintenance programme over the summer.
Ongoing engagement on LIS and funding
Brendan Smith recalled previous engagement with Fianna Fáil councillors in Cavanagh and Monaghan regarding non-national roads and said he will engage with Minister Ryan in relation to funding for Local Improvement Schemes and other local and regional schemes.
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Mr. I presume your department will be reviewing imminently the mid-year public capital expenditure profile. You will recall that last year at my request you engaged with the Fianna Fáil councillors in Cavanagh and Monaghan on the need to provide additional funding for the non-national road network. I would strongly urge again this year that in the event of an underspend in departments or statutory agencies resulting in a reallocation of funding that priority be attached to further much needed investment in regional and local roads and in laneways. A reallocation to local authorities during the summer can bring benefits to many communities and households. As you know Minister these roads are of the utmost importance particularly in rural Ireland. The local authorities will have the construction capacity to spend more money once they are notified in good time and such tax payers funding can be put to good use in the best interests of so many communities in every county. I acknowledge this is an issue you have consistently raised and I do indeed recall our meeting with local authority members for the Cavan Monaghan area last year. It is also the case that at the moment with the cost of resurfacing works and bitumen of course an oil based product particularly expensive so the work that we did in reforming the public works contract including in respect of energy I think will be important to make sure that we do have a comprehensive road resurfacing and maintenance programme over the course of the summer and I recognise the importance of the non-national road network. I know you have made the case for improved funding for LIS schemes in the past and local and regional schemes and I will engage with Minister Ryan in relation to funding.
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