asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to grant approval to both Cork Corporation and Cork County Council for the building of the Lee downstream tunnel crossing.
127.
Written Answers. - River Lee, Cork, Crossing.
40.
asked the Minister for the Environment having regard to the Taoiseach's election promises and in view of the An Foras Forbartha report which showed that traffic levels in the Cork region were in excess of the projections of the land use and transportation study, if he will now proceed with granting a bridge order to enable the project to proceed.
I am taking Questions Nos. 40 and 127 together.
I have already indicated that I am generally satisfied that the site selected at Dunkettle would be the most suitable one for a crossing and that an immersed tube tunnel would be the most suitable mode of crossing. However, I am considering the question of the timing of this scheme in the broader context of the preparation of the blueprint for medium to long-term road development throughout the country. Pending publication of the blueprint within a few months, I am deferring a decision on Cork Corporation's application for the bridge order.