asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make provision for the construction of safe crossing facilities, particularly for pedestrians, on the roundabouts on the new Oranmore by-pass, County Galway.
84.
Written Answers. - Oranmore (Galway) By-Pass.
83.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will reconsider his previous decision to insist upon children crossing the new Oranmore by-pass at a dangerous roundabout; and if he will now agree to the erection of a pedestrian over-pass; and the reason he refused to meet Galway County Council and parents' representatives to discuss this problem.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. The primary responsibility for the preparation of proposals for national road projects rests with the road authority concerned. In the case of the Oranmore by-pass, the proposals submitted by Galway County Council and approved by my Department did not make any provision for pedestrian overbridges at the intersections of the by-pass and existing roads. I am committed to financing the cost of the scheme, as submitted and approved. The council subsequently sought finance for the provision of overbridges at Frenchfort, Glenascaul and Moneymore and requested a meeting to discuss the matter.
The question of pedestrian and cycle movements across the by-pass was considered at the public inquiry related to the by-pass project and was taken into account by me in taking the decision to confirm the compulsory purchase order for lands required for the by-pass. I am advised that there appears to be no grounds for considering that the proposed junctions are substandard from a safety point of view. I am also advised that, based on present pedestrian movements, there are no grounds for suggesting that pedestrian overbridges are justified. I informed the council accordingly and told them that, in the circumstances, I did not see how the reception of a deputation would serve any useful purpose. There is no record in the Department of a request for a meeting with parents' representatives from the area of the by-pass.
I would be prepared to reconsider the matter on receipt of evidence, including technical reports, from the council outlining any shortcomings, from a safety point of view, in the event of implementing their original proposals together with recommendations for appropriate remedial action to minimise these.