The Roads and Infrastructure Agency is to invest €700 million to ease the burden on local councils, Transport Minister Ian Borg has said.

During a presentation at a meeting for mayors and vice-mayors, Dr Borg explained how the work of the Roads and Infrastructure Agency will benefit local councils.

The minister said the agency is investing €700 million over a period of seven years as pledged in the government programme to help local councils who could not keep up with the responsibility due to a lack of resources.

The councils will now retain a larger budget to implement projects that will continue to benefit communities in their towns and villages, he said.

He added that the government will ensure that during this process the local councils will retain an active role through continuous collaboration with their respective regions.