asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has considered the establishment of a national road authority; and, if not, if he will do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Road Authority.
51.
I have given consideration to this matter but it is not my intention at present to establish a national road authority. I am satisfied that in current circumstances, the maintenance and improvement of the national road system can be effectively carried out by the local road authorities. I am, however, considering what might be done to secure better co-ordination of the planning, programming and execution of works on these roads.
Can the Minister say whether this is a reversal of what could have been tantamount to the establishment of a national road authority many years ago or whether we can take it now as final and conclusive that there will not be any national road authority—that we are to continue to endure the lack of uniformity with the dangers attendant thereon from one local authority area to another? This is a danger in itself, apart altogether from the fact that it is not the best way to deal with our arterial roads.
I am answering for the Minister for Local Government. The position at the moment is that there is a draft Bill entitled the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Bill, 1973—it is about to go before the Government. This Bill, in addition to proposing to confer on road authorities the necessary legal powers to provide motorways and the strengthening of road powers in certain respects, also proposes to confer powers on the Minister to control the management of national roads and motorways and to secure the co-ordination of planning and construction works on them. If that is going as far as the Deputy suggests as being necessary, the answer to his supplementary is "yes". If not, the answer is that it is going a certain distance.
No.