asked the Minister for the Environment the Government's views on the proposal of the Confederation of Irish Industry in relation to the setting up of a national roads authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Roads Authority Proposal.
14.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to announce the national roads authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 17 together.
I have consulted with the Departments concerned on my proposals relating to the functions, staffing, funding and membership of the proposed national roads authority. My proposals will be considered by the Government in the very near future.
With specific reference to Question No. 14, is the Minister sympathetic to the proposal put forward in the CII document which is slightly separate or different from the proposed national roads authority, the essence of which would be to commit, selectively, substantial resources and investment to a roads infrastructure, thereby generating substantial economic and other benefits? Is that something the Minister is likely to do?
The proposals of the Confederation of Irish Industry were very carefully considered in our overall examination. As the Deputy knows, the proposed national roads authority will be charged specifically with certain items of which funding will be one.
Although I do not carry any brief for the CII in this respect, I should say I was struck by the extent of their work. Would the Minister be willing to invite the authors of that report to meet somebody in his Department to take matters a step further because it appears to me they have taken the whole issue very seriously and their economic arguments appear to be largely self financing?
That has already happened. I met them myself on several occasions. I know there has been very close contact between the roads division of the CII and that in my Department. I anticipate that what will emerge from all of these contacts will be for the betterment of the infrastructural demands we shall have to face in the next, say, ten to 15 years. That is the reason it is being done.
In regard to the abolition of the Dublin Transport Authority has the Minister any intention of appointing a subcommittee of this proposed national roads authority to deal with the specific problems encountered in the Dublin region? Will the proposed national roads authority have any responsibility in relation to international routes or roads, bearing in mind, for instance, the development of a tunnel between Britain and France and that there is always the possibility of another between Ireland and Britain? Would such a matter come under the aegis of the national roads authority?
My proposals have been finalised and are being put to Government. It would be inappropriate for me to give the Deputy details at random. I can say that the national roads authority will concern themselves with all national primary and secondary roads, access roads to ports and so on.
Will they have funds?
It must be the primary concern of that authority, when established, to deal with the very matter to which the Deputy refers. I would think that would form part and parcel of their function.
Is legislation proposed in relation to the establishment of a national roads authority?
Yes, legislation will be required to deal with this matter.
Will the national roads authority be established in advance of that legislation?
That is a matter that will have to be considered by Government in due course. The relevant memorandum has not yet been considered by Government but it is my intention to have the Cabinet do so in the immediate future.
With your indulgence, Sir, may I inquire if it is envisaged at this stage that the national roads authority would have the right or power, — subject to their deliberations and nobody else's — to decide ultimately the alignment of a particular route in a national primary roads system independent of what any local authority might otherwise decide?
Policy matters will be decided by the Minister.
Will the proposed national roads authority, as currently envisaged in the documentation to be put before the Cabinet, in advance of the relevant legislation, be able to decide on and declare a particular road alignment——
The Deputy has already asked that question.
The Deputy recognises better than anybody that, in advance of my submission to Government, it would be inappropriate to go into detail on the subject matter of a memorandum which has not yet been considered by Government. I might add that the decisions to be taken might alter the whole framework of what I am proposing. If the Deputy has a point he wishes to have considered in that regard, I shall be happy to hear it. I think I know what he is getting at but to give details on something the Government have yet to decide is pre-empting the issue to some extent and the Deputy himself would not go down that tunnel.
A final supplementary from Deputy Quinn. We cannot remain on this question interminably.
I appreciate the Minister's invitation to private discussions but I should say that a quota of electors put me into this House so that we could have public deliberations. It is within that framework I am posing my questions. It should be remembered that any private individual can have private discussions with the Minister, as has been witnessed in Dún Laoghaire.
A question, please, Deputy.
If the requisite legislation will be of a fundamental nature, what will be the purpose of establishing a national roads authority in advance of the introduction of such legislation?
I did not say that that would happen. These are all matters to be considered and decided by Government. The matter really has no relevance now. It is promised legislation but the Government have yet to decide on its format. The Deputy is pursuing an avenue in a way in which he knows he cannot get the response from me he would like. On the decision having being taken by Government and an announcement made, I shall be inviting the Deputy to give his considered opinion which I know will be very carefully examined and in depth when the legislation comes before the House. That will be the time to carry on this type of conversation.
I have allowed a lot of latitude on this question. The Deputy must be brief. I must proceed to another question.
As a result of all the supplementary information the Minister has given is he saying that, irrespective of the announcement of the composition of the proposed national roads authority, they will not commence their work until the relevant legislation has been processed through this House?
The Minister is not saying that.
I am calling Question No. 15.
What is the Minister saying, then?
I have already called Question No. 15.
We used to call it parliamentary democracy.
Giving responses on matters not yet decided is not appropriate. In the old days it was understood that one waited to see what was decided and put before the House.
The Minister has announced this body five times.
I have called the next question.
Will they operate——
I have called the next question and I insist on it being dealt with.