Vol. 468 No. 4
320 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment the concerns, if any, he has in relation to the proposal to construct a motorway through Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin 18; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15061/96]
The development of proposals for the proposed South-Eastern Motorway is a matter for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, as road authority for the area, acting under the general supervision of the National Roads Authority.
The Roads Act, 1993, outlines the statutory procedures which must be complied with before a project of this nature can proceed. These include a full environmental impact assessment, the preparation of a motorway scheme and the holding of a public inquiry into all matters relating to the scheme, including the environmental impact. These procedures, which involve extensive public consultation, give all interested persons or organisations ample opportunity to make their views and concerns known, and ensure that all views or objections are fully considered before a final decision is taken on a proposed scheme.
As Minister, I have a quasi-judicial function in relation to individual motorway schemes and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any aspect of a proposed scheme until the statutory procedures have been complied with.
