asked the Minister for the Environment the reason his Department have refused to up-grade the Drogheda-Maynooth road, as requested by Meath County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drogheda-Maynooth Road Reclassification.
12.
While the question of reclassification of the Dunboyne-Maynooth section of the route was discussed with my predecessor by a deputation from Meath County Council, no formal request has been received from the county council to reclassify the Drogheda-Dunboyne road. The route in question is at present designated as a regional road and I am satisfied that, having regard to the criteria for the classification of national roads, it would not be appropriate to reclassify it as a national road.
I am disappointed at the Minister's reply. As far as I am aware the county council made the request, which was refused, for the upgrading of the Drogheda-Maynooth road, the reason being the increasing numbers of heavy vehicles using Drogheda port and carrying from Drogheda products imported into this country along with cement and so on down the country. Will the Minister give a commitment that the matter will be renegotiated with the county council on the basis of upgrading this road because it is carrying more heavy traffic than any other of the main national primary roads in the county?
As I mentioned in the reply, Meath County Council discussed with my predecessor the question of upgrading the Dunboyne-Maynooth road, but the question of the Drogheda-Dunboyne——
To where?
Dunboyne-Maynooth. I gather that the question of reclassifying the Drogheda-Dunboyne road was not raised and there was no formal application for that. The total grant allocation for roads to Meath County Council in 1986 was £3.752 million. That compares with £3.2 million in 1985, an increase of 17 per cent. It also represents an increase in the grant provision of more than 200 per cent since 1978. As part of their overall allocation in addition the council were notified of a block grant totalling £550,000 for 1986, an increase of 32 per cent over the 1985 figure and of 55 per cent over the 1984 figure. Special grants of £300,000 were also made available for regional road strengthening in the county in each of the years 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986. Those figures, in particular the special grant for the strengthening of the regional roads which classification this road has, indicate a very full awareness within the Department of the needs of this regional route which is important as a designated regional road.
I am lost there. The Minister has informed us that there was no mention of the Dunboyne-Maynooth road. We are talking here about the Drogheda-Maynooth road which is a longer span than the road the Minister has mentioned. I ask him to ask his officials to investigated the application that was made from the county council because they stated that the Drogheda-Maynooth road was carrying this heavy traffic and this is why the application was made. I am sorry to think that——
Deputy, you cannot make a speech.
The Minister had a favourable answer to most of the other questions. I would appreciate it if he would reconsider this on the basis of the representation I have made here.
The road is designated as a regional road and I cannot see what advantage there would be in reclassifying it as a national road.