Allocations for Dublin City Council = €6,246,816

With the serious correction to the national finances that is currently underway, cutbacks in every Department are having an impact on local services and placing limits on what can reasonably be achieved in a given year.

For example, funding for regional and local roads has fallen by 8% between 2012 and 2013. The overall roads funding (including national roads) has fallen by 34%.

What this means is that the limited money available has to be spent where it is needed most in order to maintain decent and safe conditions on our roads.

This falls to the local Councils who establish their priorities for their administrative area and then apply for the necessary grants.

The main grants available to the Council are:

Specific Improvements Schemes – These are the substantive capital works which are proposed by individual councils and then selected by the Department in consultation with the NRA. The individual county councils will have more information on exactly what work is being carried out.

Restoration Improvement Grant – These are funds which are provided to County Councils for the rehabilitations and maintenance of road pavements. This grant heading has been reduced by 9% compared to 2012.

Restoration Maintenance Grant – This is used for surface dressing. This grant heading has been reduced by 15% compared to last year.

Block Grants – This is a direct grant made to urban authorities. Urban authorities have been given greater flexibility under this grant category and have full discretion in the selection of roads where work is being undertaken. This grant heading has been reduced by 17% compared to 2012.

Discretionary Grants – These are direct capital grants made to local authorities which can be used for a wide variety of pre-approved purposes. Up to 7% of this grant can be used for Local Improvements Schemes. This grant heading has been maintained at 2012 levels.

Low Cost Safety Works – These are small safety works schemes which are proposed by the Local Authorities. This grant heading has been maintained at 2012 levels.

Strategic Improvements Schemes – There are a small amount of funds made available for these new road construction schemes which significantly aid local economic development and employment creation. The grants made in 2013 are for work in 2013 only (this varies from scheme to scheme, but can include design, land acquisition, preparation for entry to An Bord Pleanála, etc.) and does not mean that the scheme will be constructed and completed in 2013 or that funds will be available automatically in 2014 and beyond for these schemes.

Further funding will come to Dublin City Council through the Smarter Travel scheme. DCC and the National Transport Authority are currently working out the details as to what projects will be funded for 2013 and this detailed information, as to what has been approved, should be available next week. We’ll be posting the list when we have it (this will include works such as resurfacing key bus routes, designing new cycle paths, improving traffic management, road widening etc.).