Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993

Vol. 425 No. 7

Written Answers. - Celbridge (Kildare) Traffic.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

228 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will again review proposals received from Kildare County Council and local community groups with reference to the alleviation of traffic chaos in Celbridge, County Kildare, and in particular to the possibility of provision of access/egress at Mooretown, Celbridge to the Leixlip/ Kilcock by-pass; if he will make the necessary funds available to undertake the research and planning necessary for the local authority to amend the motorway plan to provide for this facility; if his attention has been drawn to local community efforts to achieve this objective; if he will be in a position to offer a resolution to the problem in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

The proposals received from Kildare County Council regarding the traffic situation in Celbridge relate to non-national roads and the cost of implementing them falls to be financed from Kildare County Council's own resources, supplemented by the discretionary road grants provided annually for such roads.

The question of providing grants, from the funds available for national roads, in respect of a further interchange on the Kilcock/Maynooth/Leixlip motorway would only arise in the context of a further motorway scheme under the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act, 1974. It is a matter for Kildare County Council to determine the scope of the works to be included in such a scheme. Having regard to the evidence presented at the public inquiry into the existing scheme, particularly in relation to the need for and location of interchanges, a decision about the provision of road grants to meet the cost of preparation of a further scheme would not be appropriate until any such scheme has been determined.

Having regard to my quasi-judicial function in relation to the determination of motorway schemes, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further in the matter.