Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 3

Written Answers. - Roads Projects.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

142 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make available to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council the money necessary to fully construct the Dundrum bypass, in view of the fact the next phase of the M50 cannot be opened until the bypass is completed and the contract for the Luas bridge in Dundrum cannot be awarded as planned until the road is constructed, thus delaying the entire Harcourt Street Luas line. [20072/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I approved the environmental impact statement and compulsory purchase order for this project on 16 September 1998. In July this year, my Department was notified by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council of significant increases in project costings.

In the recently launched Action on Housing policy statement, the Government announced an additional investment programme, at an overall cost of £200 million, for non-national road schemes supporting residential and other developments.

The current position is that the council has included the Dundrum bypass among its proposals submitted in response to a request from my Department to selected local authorities for suitable projects under this new programme. Proposals received from local authorities under this new investment programme are under consideration in my Department and an announcement concerning the projects which will be included in the programme will be made as soon as possible.