(AQW 3004/01)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): The attached tables show how the financial resources allocated to my Department’s 4 Roads Service Divisions, for capital expenditure on major and minor road improvements, were spent across each district council area over the 3 year period.

However, I want to make it clear that Roads Service does not simply split its total budget for capital expenditure on roads across all the district council areas. In particular, as I explained in my response to your written Assembly Questions AQW2591/01 and AQW2592/01 on 8 April 2002, major road improvements are prioritised on a country-wide basis and not on a Roads Service Divisional or District Council basis taking account of a broad range of criteria such as strategic planning policy, traffic flows, number of accidents, potential travel save times, environmental impact and value for money. While the actual spend on a major works scheme may be within one district council area, the benefits of such schemes are not confined to the District Council or constituencies in which they are located. In this context, while the £4.5M soon to be spent on the Comber Bypass will be revealed as expenditure within the Ards Borough Council area, the scheme will also greatly benefit through traffic from other council areas in terms of reduced journey times.

Roads Service expenditure on minor road improvements includes minor works, accident remedial schemes, transportation measures and minor bridge strengthening. The resources available for such works are allocated to the 4 Roads Service Divisions and, in turn, apportioned across District Council areas on a needs-based priority approach using indicators such as population, weighted road lengths and the number of accidents. This ensures, so far as possible, an equitable distribution of funds across the country.

* Excludes Expenditure on Purchase
of the Ferry Vessel "MV Portaferry" - 30 2,127

(AQW 3005/01)

Mr P Robinson: The attached tables show how the financial resources allocated to my Department’s 4 Roads Service Divisions, for capital expenditure on major and minor road improvements, were spent across each district council area over the 3 year period.

However, I want to make it clear that Roads Service does not simply split its total budget for capital expenditure on roads across all the district council areas. In particular, as I explained in my response to your written Assembly Questions AQW2591/01 and AQW2592/01 on 8 April 2002, major road improvements are prioritised on a country- wide basis and not on a Roads Service Divisional or District Council basis taking account of a broad range of criteria such as strategic planning policy, traffic flows, number of accidents, potential travel save times, environmental impact and value for money. While the actual spend on a major works scheme may be within one district council area, the benefits of such schemes are not confined to the District Council or constituencies in which they are located. In this context, while the £4.5M soon to be spent on the Comber Bypass will be revealed as expenditure within the Ards Borough Council area, the scheme will also greatly benefit through traffic from other council areas in terms of reduced journey times.

Roads Service expenditure on minor road improvements includes minor works, accident remedial schemes, transportation measures and minor bridge strengthening. The resources available for such works are allocated to the 4 Roads Service Divisions and, in turn, apportioned across District Council areas on a needs-based priority approach using indicators such as population, weighted road lengths and the number of accidents. This ensures, so far as possible, an equitable distribution of funds across the country.

* Excludes Expenditure on Purchase
of the Ferry Vessel "MV Portaferry" - 30 2,127