Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​The 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 local authorities' 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. In 2015 Mayo County Council submitted an application to my Department for 24 low cost safety projects. Councils were asked to list projects in order of priority. While a scheme on the LP1124 at Church Road, Ballina was on the list it was placed at 15 of 24 schemes (with a total value of €1.09m) put forward by the local authority for funding in 2015. The overall budget for this grant programme in 2015 for all Councils is €5.8 million and Mayo County Council has been allocated €420,000 for low cost safety works. The footpath extension scheme on Church Road in Ballina was not sufficiently high on the priority list to receive funding under this programme in 2015.

It is a matter for Mayo County Council to select and prioritise the regional and local road works to be funded each year and the role of Exchequer grants is to supplement the Council's own resources.