Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Jan 1992

Vol. 415 No. 2

Written Answers. - County Dublin Public Lighting.

Nora Owen

Question:

61 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make funds available to Dublin County Council to upgrade the public lighting on the N1 road between Dublin and Belfast at (a) Blakes Cross to Ministers Road, Lusk, and (b) adjacent to Balrothery at the entrance into Balbriggan town in view of the fact that 14 people have been killed in the recent past at these locations.

Minister for the Environment (Dr. O'Hanlon)

Proposals from Dublin County Council for the provision of public lighting at the locations in question have been considered in my Department. To allow the matter to be further examined, the local authority have been requested to submit additional information and the proposals will be further considered on receipt of this.

Nora Owen

Question:

62 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to pay a grant to Dublin County Council to upgrade the N1 road to Belfast at specified locations between Swords and Balbriggan in County Dublin; if he will outline the amount of grant he will make available.

Minister for the Environment (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The strategy, outlined in the operational programme on peripherality, for the improvement of the network of national primary routes envisages the upgrading of the N1, from Dublin to the Border, to motorway standard. In the area referred to in the question this will involve two major road projects — a by-pass of Balbriggan and a new alignment from Balbriggan to Lissenhall.

The Ballbriggan by-pass is included in the tentative list of major projects planned to commence and/or be completed in the period 1989 to 1993 under the operational programme on peripherality and, subject to the statutory procedures involved, is scheduled for construction in the period 1993 to 1996. The scheme will involve the provision of 11.5 kilometres of new route from south of Balrothery to north of Gormanston. I understand that the local authority are preparing a motorway scheme and environmental impact study for the route under the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act, 1974. The estimated cost of the scheme will be in the region of £34 million. Road grants of £433,000 have been paid to date to meet preliminary expenses.

The scheduling of the Balbriggan to Lissenhall project will be considered in the preparation of road development plans for the period after 1993.

The question of financing necessary minor improvements to the existing route in the meantime will be borne in mind in the determination of the annual road grant allocations.