Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 5

Written Answers. - Roads Projects.

John Dennehy

Question:

303 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if a request has been received in his Department from Cork Corporation seeking funds for the provision of a relief road from Ardrostig to Gurraheen Road in Bishopstown, County Cork; if, in view of the poor planning by the bodies involved which has resulted in the majority of traffic exiting westwards off the South Ring Road via nearby housing estates, he will sanction the funding as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25807/00]

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

The proposed link road between Ardrostig Cross and Curraheen Road was not included in Cork Corporation's application for funding under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme in 2000. A request for special funding for this scheme was received at the end of 1999.

A total of four schemes submitted by Cork Corporation were approved for funding under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme in 2000; these did not include the Ardrostig Cross-Curraheen Link Road.

It will be open to Cork Corporation to consider prioritising this project when it submits its proposals' for 2001 under the EU co-financed specific improvements grants scheme, which are due in my Department by 17 November 2000.

John Dennehy

Question:

304 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in view of the recent vintage of Cork's South Ring Road, he will outline the reason a proposal to build a flyover at an estimated cost of £1.25 million at the Kinsale Road roundabout was removed by his Department from the original proposals for the road. [25808/00]

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

The proposed grade separation of the Kinsale Road junction on Cork city's South Ring Road is currently being undertaken by the National Roads Authority in conjunction with both Cork Corporation and Cork County Council, and is a matter for those bodies.

I understand that the preliminary design of the South Ring Road dates to the early 1980s; this was prior to the establishment of NRA and my Department was involved with the Cork local authorities in evaluating engineering options for the project.

Traffic volumes and projected growth rates at that time indicated that an at grade roundabout would be adequate for some years with provision for full grade separation at a future date. Full grade separation is now required due to recent growth in traffic volumes.

Any comparison between 1980s estimates for projects with present day estimates should take account of increases in traffic volumes and changes in road design standards, along with various economic and inflationary factors that have occurred in the interim.

Question No. 305 taken with Question No. 300.