Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jul 1990

Vol. 401 No. 4

Written Answers. - Border Roads Upgrading.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

180 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the widespread concern among the public in general and the business community in particular, regarding the current status and general condition of the trans-frontier route R202 which links the N4 with the Border at Swanlinbar and with Northern Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the number of accidents which have occurred in recent times on this road as a result of it being unsuitable for the current level of heavy commercial traffic; and if he will outline his proposals in this matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

Leitrim County Council have, on a number of occasions in recent years, requested that R202, Swanlinbar, County Cavan-Dromod, be upgraded to national secondary status. The case for its up-grading has been examined by my Department. Having regard to the criteria for the selection of national secondary roads, it is considered that reclassification is not warranted.

This is a regional road and, accordingly, primary responsibility for road works on it rests with the local authority. The cost of such works normally falls to be financed from local resources supplemented by the discretionary grants provided by my Department for regional and county roads. In the case of Leitrim County Council, the 1990 allocations under this heading amount to £1.882 million. Included in this provision is a supplementary discretionary grant of £300,000 for improvements to regional and county roads in recognition of the special needs of the county.