COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 13, 2012

QUESTION NO. 15

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Manager to outline the preparations and resources in place for 2012 to ensure a more consistent and adequate grass-cutting regime along national primary routes? (Noting that grass-cutting along the N4 during 2011 was much more consistent and adequate in the August-December period than in the first half of the year)

REPLY:

The allocation for National Road Maintenance for 2012 is €69,051. This is a reduction on the allocation of €76,765 for 2011.

A portion of this allocation will be used to address safety isssues such as barrier repairs, the remaining allocation will be used for grass cutting. While every effort is made to maximise the percentage of the grant that might be made available for grass cutting, in practise this normally allows for 1 or 2 cuts of the verges and central margins on an annual basis. The Council is in ongoing discussion with the National Roads Authority regarding the adequacy of the allocation  taking into account the working environment on  these major roads and the health and safety obligations attaching to this work.  Should additional grant aid be made available by  the NRA then arrangements will be  put in place to introduce a more frequent cutting regime for the national network.

It should be noted that one grass cut of the N4 from Dublin City Council Boundary to the Kildare Boundary costs €28,000 approx.