Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Roads Funding.

Michael Creed

Question:

759 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the criteria used by her Department in determining the strategic roads for investment under the national development plan; the role the National Roads Authority and the local authorities play in identifying the roads for investment; and if these moneys are additional to or in lieu of investment by the Department of Environment and Local Government in strategic routes in Gaeltacht areas. [24195/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Éamon Ó Cuív):

The additional funding secured by my Department this year, over the duration of the national development plan, for the improvement of strategic Gaeltacht roads is in addition to the funding which would normally be available to the relevant local authorities for the improvements of the roads in question. The roads to be improved will be selected following discussions between my Department, the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the relevant local authorities based on the following criteria. The roads in question must be non-national roads and as such the National Roads Authority will have no role in their selection; and the roads, which will normally be regional roads, are the recognised main roads into or between the relevant Gaeltacht areas.