Local authorities will be able to plan ahead after the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport announced the 2017 grant allocations for maintenance on regional and local roads throughout Ireland.

Minister Shane Ross announced a €324 million investment programme to support the road network.

The Minister added that the priority in 2017 continues to be the maintenance of Ireland's existing road network which will enhance safety and support job growth in local areas.

He said: "I am delighted that the allocations to local authorities will see an increase of about 9% in 2017. This increase has the potential to allow an additional 210kms of road to be strengthened in 2017.

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"The overall funding package will allow approximately 1,980kms of regional and local roads to be maintained and 2,035kms to be strengthened this year."

As well as expenditure on maintenance and strengthening, the 2017 investment programme also allows for a number of Capital Plan projects to progress, including:

• Bettystown to Laytown Link Road in County Meath

• Dingle Relief Road (Phase 4) in County Kerry

• Sallins by-Pass/Osberstown Interchange

• Shannon Crossing in Killaloe, County Clare

• Athy Southern Distributor Road in County Kildare

• Portlaoise Southern Relief Road

• Eastern Garavogue Bridge in Sligo

• Grange Castle Business Park Roads in County Dublin.

Minister Ross continued: "A number of projects will also support industry and facilitate increased employment including road infrastructure improvements in the vicinity of the proposed Center Parc development in Longford.

"Funding of over €1.3m will be allocated to local authorities to continue with the implementation of 30km/h speed limits in housing estates across Ireland.

"I would also like to emphasise that I consider that local authorities are best placed to assess priorities within their areas and considerable autonomy is therefore given to local authorities under grant headings to decide their work programme."

(CD/JP)