asked the Minister for the Environment the present position and the dates of future developments in relation to the proposed Southern Cross route in Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Road Proposals.
16.
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 Harolds 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 and work has been completed on one of these sections from Greenhills Road to Tallaght Road. I understand that the council are preparing a compulsory purchase order for the lands necessary for the section from Greenhills Road to the Naas Road and that land is being acquired for the Tallaght Road/Firhouse Road section. The completion of these three sections would provide a new road linking the Naas dual carriageway with Firhouse Road and would represent about half of the total length of the route from the Naas Road to Harold's Grange.
As regards the remainder of the route from Tallaght By-Pass to Harold's Grange, Dublin County Council, in October 1979, appointed consultants to draw up the compulsory purchase documents necessary for land acquisition and to prepare detailed design and contract documents. A preliminary alignment study prepared by the consultants was considered by the council at a meeting on 6 July this year and I understand that the matter will be further considered by the council. The timing and execution of work on further sections of the route is primarily a matter for Dublin County Council, depending on the rate of progress by the council with detailed planning, land acquisition and the availability of resources. Accordingly, I am not in a position to give a time scale for completion of the route.
Having regard to the fact that the quality of life and the standard of living generally of tens of thousands of people on the southern side of Dublin is being impaired by delay in completion of this route, could the Minister use his personal good offices to assist the county council and all others concerned to complete this very important project at the earliest possible date.
I shall be glad to do that. When it comes to my Department there will be no undue delay. The county council must be given the opportunity to make up their mind as to what they want.
Considering that this is such a major project for Dublin City, would the Minister not be in a position to give some indication as to the general time-table for the completion of this major work? Would the Minister be in a position to tell us what the overall estimate of the cost is looking like at this stage? I appreciate that it will only be an estimate.
I am not able to give an estimate but I can give the cost to date. I cannot give a time scale because, as I have said, I am anxious that Dublin County Council make up their own minds and that the proposals they make will be the final ones. The Nass Road-Greenhills Road—£335,000; Greenhills Road-Tallaght Road £1.233 million; Tallaght-Firhouse Road £.877 million.