Batt O'Keeffe
Question:660 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when the inspector's report on the Ballincollig bypass, County Cork, will be adopted so tenders for the project can be sought. [19147/00]
Written Answers. - Roads Projects.
On 24 July 2000 I made an order approving the Ballincollig bypass proposed national route road improvement scheme, subject to one modification. Public notice of this order appeared in the national newspapers on 31 July 2000. Advancement of this project is now a matter for Cork County Council and the National Roads Authority.
Seán Haughey
Question:661 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of road projects announced during the summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19274/00]
Under section 17 of the Roads Act, 1993, the National Roads Authority, NRA, is responsible for the planning and supervision of works for the construction and maintenance of national roads. The national development plan, NDP, for the period 2000-06, together with the Community Support Framework and the Economic Infrastructure Operational Programme, broadly form the strategic policy context for the provision of national road infrastructure over the next seven years; it is a matter for the National Roads Authority, local authorities and the private sector through public private partnerships to implement the necessary investment to achieve the agreed policy objectives.
It is the responsibility of the NRA within the framework of the NDP to promote the detailed programming of the work required by the plan and to undertake, in co-operation with local authorities, the planning, design and implementation of individual road development projects.
In addition to the road investment programme set out in the NDP, on 26 July 2000 the Government agreed to advise the NRA to include the Dublin eastern bypass motorway project in the national roads development programme, and to proceed with its planning and design on a basis which would minimise disruption to existing communities. This decision followed a review of transportation issues by the Government in 1999 when the NRA was asked to take another look at the possibility of an eastern bypass of Dublin. The study concluded that the bypass would now be feasible on environmental, engineering, and economic grounds.
In relation to non-national roads, my Department reviewed the 2000 programme generally in August and made certain revised allocations in order to ensure a full and efficient programme spend. In addition, on 15 September 2000 I visited Killarney to officially open the inner relief road which links the N72 Killorglin Road to the N71 Kenmare Road.
I have approved three environmental impact statements during the summer months. These relate to the N4 Sligo inner relief route, N11 Newtownmountkennedy to Ballynabarny, and Ballincollig bypass proposed national road improvement scheme and associated works.