Record funding of €476.8 million is to be provided for the non-national road network., the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, announced today.
Speaking in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, Mr Cullen said the funding would "smooth the way for road users with better surfaces, wider roads and enhanced drainage."
The funding represents an investment of €4,610 for every kilometre of non-national road in the country and is a 10 per cent increase on last year.
The investment is made up of €428 million from the Local Government Fund and €48.8 million from Exchequer funding.
The Minister also appointed consultants to assess, county-by-county, the areas of non-national roads needing repairs. The study, which is not expected to be completed until the middle of the year, will influence where much of the funding will be spent.
Among the schemes expected to benefit in 2004 are the Naas ring road, the Enfield-Edenderry road, the Barberstown Cross-to-Maynooth road, Trim to Kilcock road, the outer ring roads in South Dublin and Waterford, and the Wicklow town relief road.
"In future years we will reap the benefits of this investment and have a non-national roads network of which we can be proud." Mr Cullen said.
