Vol. 518 No. 3
199 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to review the national development plan to include the development of a motorway or dual carriageway from Dublin to the northwest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11389/00]
The National Development Plan, 2000-2006, together with the Community Support Framework – when agreed with the European Commission – and the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme, will form the strategic policy context for the improvement of the national road infrastructure over the next seven years. It will be a matter for the National Roads Authority within this framework to promote the detailed programming of the work required by the plan and to manage, in co-operation with local authorities, the planning, design and implementation of individual road development projects. The improvement works, including type of road, to be undertaken will be a matter for the NRA and local authorities concerned having regard to current and projected traffic volumes.
In addition to the investment programme set out in the NDP for national roads, the need for the development of new routes to augment those mentioned in the plan will be evaluated over the period of the plan. Where the need for a new route is established, funding will be provided for the advance planning and design of the route in the plan period, with a view to bringing the project to construction within an appropriate time frame.
