Vol. 201 No. 6
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has received any proposals from Dublin Corporation for new roads to run from Ringsend to the Borough of Dún Laoghaire; and, if not, whether he will encourage the corporation to develop such a scheme in order to ease the present traffic congestion on the Merrion Road.
38.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has received any proposals from Dún Laoghaire Corporation for road development from the borough boundary at Booterstown to Dalkey, County Dublin; and, if not, whether he will urge the corporation to proceed with such a scheme in order to ease the present traffic congestion and to eliminate the dangers arising from the large and sudden variations in road width and surface, and the many blind corners and bottlenecks between these two points.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 38 together.
I have not received any proposals from Dublin or Dún Laoghaire Corporations for new road development on the line Ringsend-Booterstown-Dalkey. A number of schemes for the improvement of sections of the existing roads on that line have been approved in principle, including the reconstruction of Beach Road and Strand Road, and of part of Rock Road as well as the improvement of Upper Glenageary and Carrickbrennan Roads. The question of further road development in both Dublin and Dún Laoghaire is likely to be greatly influenced by the findings of the recent traffic survey. When the final report on the survey has been received, it will be for the road authorities concerned to consider what development schemes are desirable and practicable in their areas and to determine the priorities on which to base a programme of works.
39.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has given instructions for the preparation of a general plan for main roads in the city and county of Dublin; if so, whether he proposes that all such roads should have dual carriageways; and what steps have been taken to persuade the local authorities concerned to implement such a plan.
40.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he has yet received any intimation of action from the Dublin city and county authorities in respect of his recent directive on the need for improving main roads entering the city.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 39 and 40 together.
I have not given any instructions to Dublin Corporation or County Council for the preparation of a general plan for main roads; any plan of that nature would presumably be based largely on the findings in the recent traffic survey, the final report on which has not yet come to hand. I have, however, conveyed to those authorities my disappointment at the slow rate of progress in recent years in dealing with the necessary improvement of the major traffic routes, or arterial roads serving the city, for which special financial assistance has been available since 1947. I have pointed out that the traffic conditions which have developed on these roads are a matter for serious concern and that the dimensions of the problem are such that it must now be tackled urgently and on a comprehensive basis. I have also renewed the promise of financial support to enable these routes to be brought up to a suitable standard. I have been assured on behalf of the authorities in question that the matter will be pressed forward with the least possible delay and that arrangements are being made to determine preliminary programming of the work and standards.
