The planning, design and implementation of national roads improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the relevant local authorities concerned, in this case Westmeath County Council.
I understand from the NRA that Westmeath County Council has included a request for an allocation from the National Roads Authority to fund works at this location. This request forms part of a submission received from the council in the context of the NRA's 2005 allocations.
The various projects which have been included in the council's submission are being considered for funding by the NRA in 2005 having regard to the level of funding available for national roads generally and the many competing demands for these resources. It is expected that the national road grant allocations to local authorities for 2005 will be announced by the NRA in mid-February.