Bernard J. Durkan
Question:221 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the position in regard to achieving the targets set in the national roads programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13175/03]
Written Answers. - Road Network.
The national development plan sets out a strategic framework for the development of the national roads network to 2006 and it is the responsibility of the NRA within this framework, to promote the detailed programming of the work required by the plan in co-operation with local authorities.
This year, over €1.2 billion is being provided to the NRA for the improvement and maintenance of national roads. Good progress has been made with the implementation of the national roads programme and over the period 2000-02, 26 projects have been completed. At the beginning of the year, work was under way on 19 projects. Two of these have already been completed and a further 11 are expected to open to traffic this year including, by the end of June, the M1 Drogheda bypass, Cloghran-Lissenhall and Lisenhall-Balbriggan schemes. When completed it will mean that we will have motorway from Dublin to just south of Dundalk.
It is expected that all of the projects under the NDP national road programme will be completed although some projects will run beyond the time limit of the plan. Completion of the programme will be dependent on funding levels and the prevailing budgetary and economic situation over the coming years.
Question No. 222 answered with Question No. 218