Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Sep 1995

Vol. 456 No. 1

Written Answers. - Major Road Projects.

James Leonard

Question:

93 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for the Environment the major Irish road projects which are included in the first stage of the ECU400 billion EU cross-Border network scheme to develop road, rail and canal networks in the period up to the year 2010. [10298/95]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

The European Commission's guidelines for the creation of the Trans European Networks (TENS) envisage an investment of ECU 400 billion in the realisation of these networks up to the year 2010. The guidelines establish the broad geographical lines of the corridors included in the TENS but do not include lists of specific projects to be undertaken. Ireland actively particiapted in all stages of the development of the TENS guidelines. These are now being finalised in discussions between the European Parliament and Council in accordance with the co-decision procedure provided for in Article 189b of the Treaty on European Union.

The following routes are included in the TENS proposals under consideration as part of that process: Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Waterford; Derry, Omagh, Ballygawley, Monaghan, Ardee; Larne, Belfast, Dublin, Wexford, Rosslare; Letterkenny, Derry, Belfast, Larne; Sligo, Enniskillen, Belfast; Sligo, Kinnegad, Dublin; Galway, Kinnegad; Limerick, Portlaoise, Dublin; Cork, Portlaoise; Cork, Wexford; Limerick, Tralee, Killarney, Cork; and Waterford, Kilkenny, Dublin. The selection of individual projects on those sections of these routes within the State, and the allocation of grants to selected projects, are matters for the National Roads Authority.