asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state his policy in relation to the future planning and financing of roads and motorways.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Roads Policy.
109.
It is my purpose to support local authorities, to the fullest extent that the available resources will allow, in the discharge of their responsibilities for the provision and maintenance of a public road network suited to the safe and efficient movement of persons and goods. This includes financial assistance, technical and administrative advice and guidance in the planning and implementation of road programmes, and the provision of necessary legislative powers.
In pursuance of that objective, grant allocations of £18.9 millions representing an increased provision of £4.5 million over 1972-73 have, as I indicated in my statements when introducing the Estimates for my Department on 20th November last, been made through the Road Fund in the current year. It is my aim to maintain a progressive increase in the annual provision for road works to cope with the backlog of necessary improvements. The priorities in the allocation of these funds, apart from essential maintenance, are the removal of the deficiencies in the national inter-urban routes; relief of congestion and provision for future growth in the urban areas; and support for regional development.
Use will be made of available sources for research into future needs for major routes, including An Foras Forbartha and specialist consultancy services. It is proposed as far as practicable to develop forward programmes of schemes and to define corridors for future new routes so that they can be kept free of development likely to hinder or increase the cost of the construction of the roads.
Where new roads are required, construction to motorway standard will be considered if projected traffic flows indicate that this type of road would be the most efficient and economical. The Motorways Bill, at present before the Dáil, is intended to provide local authorities with the necessary powers to construct and operate such roads. The financing of road works is being examined in association with budgetary and capital programme policies.
I am afraid I missed part of the beginning of the reply. I do not want the Minister to go back over it but I just want him to say did he refer, when he mentioned the financing of roadways, to sources other than the Road Fund?
In the Bill which is before the House, the Second Reading of which has just been started, I did refer to alternative methods, of financing motorways. As the Deputy must be aware, it would not be possible to finance the vast amount of money required from the Road Fund and to carry on the existing jobs which the Road Fund must finance.
I am so aware, but I would ask the Minister if he would consider, apart from motorways, that the extent of the commitment that is involved is such that it cannot be met out of the Road Fund and that it does require an approach to the whole financing of roadways on a capital basis with, perhaps, access to the European Investment Bank.
I do not want to interrupt Deputy Colley, but I made this exact statement on the Second Reading of the Bill.
I just want to be sure that the Minister accepted that.