asked the Minister for the Environment the progress his Department have made towards implementing the Government's commitments in respect of the Southern Cross motorway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Southern Cross Motorway.
11.
As the House is already aware, approval in principle has been given to proposals submitted by Dublin County Council for the construction of that part of the Western Parkway/Southern Cross route between Red Cow on the Naas Road and Harold's Grange, and to the council proceeding with detailed planning for the route. Road grants totalling £2.445 millions, have been allocated to the council to date for the sections of the route between Naas Road and Firhouse Road.
The allocation of further grants to the council for the remainder of the route, from Firhouse Road to Harold's Grange, will be considered on receipt of an acceptable detailed design for the road, including plans, longitudinal and cross sections, bill of quantities and an estimate of cost together with details of land requirements and an indication that the council are in a position to proceed with the purchase of the necessary lands.
Is the Minister aware that one of the main commitments given by Senator Eoin Ryan on behalf of Fianna Fáil prior to the 1977 election and since was to activate the Southern Cross route in a way that would avoid routing heavy traffic into residential areas? Is he aware that the phasing of the road that he has now described will have precisely the opposite effect, because it will deliver a huge volume of traffic via the square from Newlands Cross down to Firhouse without any provision for accommodating that traffic eastwards from there.
The position is that the development of further sections of route, including the timing and the execution of the work, is primarily a matter for Dublin County Council. It is understood from the county council that, by order dated 18 October 1979, the City and County Manager appointed a consultant for the drawing up of the CPO for land acquisition, the preparation of a detailed map and the signing of contract documents in respect of the by-pass. The question of allocating grants for other sections of the route from Firhouse Road to Aherne's Cross will be considered in the light of the progress made by the council. It is a matter for the county council and the consultants should be allowed to get on with the job. If Deputy Horgan can use his influence there it would be very helpful.
Would the Minister not agree that if the fundamental aspect of his Government's commitment is to be observed and maintained, that priority should have been given to the section of the road from Tallaght to Harold's Grange which links on with Sandyford? Would the Minister not agree that if that section of the road is not built first, all the traffic which is arriving off the Naas Road and coming down from Newlands Cross to Firhouse will end up clogging the residential roads around Ballyroan, Butterfield, Holylands, Nutgrove, Taylor's Lane and Kilmacud and that there will be a dangerous backlog of traffic from there on in until the final section of the road is built? Finally is the Minister not aware that there is considerable apprehension that the sections of the Southern Cross route from Harold's Grange will never be built because pressure will be put on to join up existing sections of residential roads to take that traffic when it arrives at this spot?
Deputy Horgan is presuming a lot in saying that such a thing might happen. It may not happen. It is a matter for the Dublin County Council.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I would like to raise the matter of this question on the adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.