asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the effective working relationship between his Department, the local authorities and the National Roads Authority; the work carried out by the National Roads Authority to date; the additional skills, if any, which it has brought to the existing organisations; the cost to the taxpayer involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - National Roads Authority.
11.
I propose to introduce a comprehensive Roads Bill in the next session which will include provision for the setting up of a National Roads Authority on a statutory basis.
Pending the enactment of the legislation, the interim authority has a significant role to play in the operation of the national roads programme. It can carry out the following functions: supervision of the development programme for national roads; annual review of road development programmes; making of recommendations to the Minister on the annual State road grant allocations for the improvement and maintenance of national roads; promotion of private sector investment in tolled roads; the preparation and submission (for approval) of future medium-term plans for the development of the network of national roads, subject to financial guidelines by the Minister; and the promotion of the case for future EC financial assistance for national roads with the relevant EC agencies. Fifteen administrative staff and 13 professional staff of the Department of the Environment are providing services to the interim authority pending its establishment on a statutory basis.
The Minister has overall responsibility for policy, finance and legislation relating to national roads. Local authorities continue to have a major role in the development of the national road network. It is envisaged that they will normally act on behalf of the Authority in relation to design work and contracts. They will also continue to be responsible for the maintenance of national roads.
Specific documents prepared by the Authority include a submission containing its views on a draft document on a medium to long-term strategy for road development prepared by the Department and the Authority's recommendations as to the content of legislation to establish it on a statutory basis.
Regarding skills, the membership of the Authority was outlined in the press statement I issued at the launching of the Authority.
Grants totalling £48,000 have been made available from the Department's Vote to meet the general expenses of the Authority in 1988 and 1989.
Would the Minister not agree that the sum of £48,000, which has been transferred virtually in its entirety to the Confederation of Irish Industry, the employer of the Chairman of the National Roads Interim Authority, has been a direct subsidy to private sector interests for skills and expertise which were already resident within the Department? Would the Minister also agree that his failure, as witnessed by his reply two days ago, to have the heads of a Bill to establish the National Roads Authority circulated to Government at this stage is a gross dereliction of duty? Can the Minister explain to the House why after his two and a half years in office this authority has not been established?
I think it is grossly unfair that the Deputy should refer to the remuneration of the Chairman of the National Roads Interim Authority.
Is it not fact?
The money has been drawn down.
Let us not reflect on persons outside this House for obvious reasons.
I did not mention the person's name.
The person may not be mentioned in such a manner that he or she may be identifiable.
The Deputy knows full well that the salary being paid to the chairman has been well earned and that he has given a great commitment to the Authority. A great deal of work had to be done in formulating advice on the statutory basis for the Authority, which will be coming before the House next term, and also in developing the operational programme on a whole range of matters that I have referred to in the reply. The interim Authority has worked very well. Indeed the Deputy remarked to the Minister of State that she might consider setting up an interim board to deal with environmental protection. This is a good example of where such a board has worked very well.
Perhaps the Minister would discuss this with the Minister of State.
Perhaps the Minister and the Minister of State should sit closer together.
One does not have to be sitting next to one to have a good relationship.
We have noticed that.
Does one have to share the same floor of the Department?
Can one use the same entrance door?
The Deputy is anxious to see that the Roads Authority legislation will be processed as soon as possible.
I am.
I understand that, because the Deputy has indicated it on a previous occasion. Happily we will be able to have the legislation before the House next session.
The Minister has just said that the roads authority legislation will be before the House during the next session. Could he indicate whether the legislation to establish a roads Authority will come before the House ahead of the legislation to establish an environmental protection agency? Which will be circulated first? Could the Minister indicate the dates on which he expects to circulate the legislation?
We have passed that. The environment protection agency relates to Question No. 9.
It would not be possible to give the exact date, but it is the intention of the Minister for the Environment with the assistance of the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment that legislation on both these matters be enacted with all speed. That is our firm intention and commitment to the House.
After two and a half years?
We had better get it right.
After two and a half years.
It is like the Private Members' Bill introduced in this House by some Deputies.
These matters should not give rise to disorder. I am calling Deputy Finucane.
The Minister is being disorderly at this stage.
Would the Minister not agree that there are many national roads which are regarded as national secondary routes at present which seriously need upgrading to national primary routes because of the volume of traffic on them, especially goods vehicles and trucks? As the Ceann Comhairle is aware, I have raised the question of one specific road in my constituency which would conform to that criteria. Perhaps the Minister could define what criteria are used in upgrading a national secondary route to a national primary route?
We are having an extension of the question.
The Deputy will be aware that all national secondary roads are national primary routes. If he has a particular road in mind to which he would like to give particular attention I would be happy, if he sends me a note about it, to examine it for him.