NI Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has congratulated the ongong partnership between Northern Ireland's Roads Service and the road building industry after the successful completion of one of the most intensive work programmes in recent years.

The Minister highlighted the positive contribution of the Quarry Products Association and praised QPA for their commitment to ensuring that the additional allocations was spent within this financial year.

The Minister said: "The additional funding allocated to the Roads Service in January, has been directed primarily towards resurfacing of local roads and has permitted the resurfacing of around 100 miles of carriageway.

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"Maintaining the surfaces and underlying structures of roads and footways is essential for the social and economic well-being of the north and is a high priority for Roads Service. Additional funding this year has brought immediate benefits right across the roads network and has made a much needed contribution to addressing the impact of years of under-investment.

"As a result of a strong in-year bid submitted by my Department, more than £17million of additional funding was allocated to Roads Service’s Divisions in January this year."

The Minister added additional resources are welcome at any time and the industry has shown it has the flexibility to cope with these in-year increases. The additional resources mean that around £75million was invested in the structural maintenance of our roads in 2007/08 and it is planned to spend a further £200million over the next three years.

(JM)