asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline his intentions regarding the realignment of the road and bridge on the canal at Sallins, County Kildare; if he intends to make financial provision for same in the context of the 1990 Estimates; when he expects site works to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Realignment of Road and Bridge.
118.
The canal and railway bridges at Sallins are located on the Clane-Naas Road, which is a regional road.
Improvements involving the widening of the canal bridge were completed in April 1988, with the assistance of special road grants provided by my Department.
The local authority have also applied for special road grant assistance for the improvement of the bridge spanning the railway line at Sallins. The scheme proposed by the authority would involve the replacement of the existing bridge by a bridge on a new alignment and the improvement of the immediate approach roads. The design of the proposed scheme is at present being considered at engineering level by the Department, the local authority and Iarnrod Éireann.
A special road grant contribution of £100,000 towards preliminary costs on the Sallins railway bridge scheme has been allocated for 1989. Subject to the outcome of the current discussions in relation to the design, the question of special road grant funding to meet an appropriate share of any cost arising in 1990 will be considered when the road grant allocations for next year are being determined. At this stage, it is not possible to give an indication of the likely timing of the construction of the scheme.