Vol. 537 No. 3
100 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current position in relation to the study on infrastructure, co-launched by himself and Lord Dubbs in Omagh, courtesy of, among others, the North West Region Cross Border Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14549/01]
The Joint Transportation Infrastructure Study referred to in the question, which was launched in February 1999, was commissioned by the Irish Central Cross Border Area Network, ICBAN, and the North West Region Cross Border Group, NWRCBG, with funding from INTERREG II. The study highlighted various deficiencies in transportation infrastructure on both sides of the Border and was taken into account in the formulation of the national development plan, NDP. The NDP provides for a total investment in the national road network of £4.7 billion, 1999 prices, over the period 2000-2006 and sets out a strategic framework for the improvement and maintenance of the network over that period.
Significant investment in cross-Border national roads is envisaged, including those mentioned in the study – for example, M1-N1, N2, N3, N15, N16. The NDP also provides for improvement works on national secondary routes in the Border area which are of particular importance for economic and regional development, including the N56. The NDP provides for £1.6 billion, 1999 prices, to be invested in non-national roads, of which in the order of £705 million is expected to be invested in the Border, midland and western region.
