Debate contribution: Rural Roads: Upgrade Plans
Debate contribution by Mr John O'Dowd on .
- MLA
- Mr John O'Dowd
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 March 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Rural Roads: Upgrade Plans
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4252705
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I recognise that there has been historic underinvestment in our road network for a significant number of years and that many rural roads are in need of repairs. That is why I recently announced an additional investment of £1 million to begin to address that issue. Since 2016, my Department has targeted funds towards a road improvement package to stop deterioration and to repair severe defects on the local road network. A significant proportion of that funding has historically been targeted to the rural road network. In 2023-24, some £10 million was initially allocated to the roads recovery fund, of which £8 million was directed towards rural roads. The rural road network makes up 75% of the total road network, and therefore a significant proportion of the overall budget allocated for structural maintenance will be targeted towards the rural road network. I have also allocated a further £1 million to be spent on the fixing of potholes this year, and, in addition, I recently announced the allocation of £8·1 million for my Department's structural maintenance programme.
176 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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