asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a report (particulars supplied) that neither Ireland's present or predicted population nor volume of traffic could justify an elaborate and expensive system of protected express motorways; and that, with the possible exception of the roads from Dublin to Bray, Naas and Drogheda, nowhere in Ireland is a six lane dual carriageway going to be needed or justified in the next 50 years; whether considerations of this kind have been examined by his Department in relation to the road system in this country; and, if so, what conclusions he has come to.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Provision of Motorways.
35.
Mr. Barrett
I assure the Deputy that it is not the policy of my Department to encourage road authorities to embark on an over-elaborate and expensive road system which would not be justified by present and predicted population and traffic volumes. Present and predicted traffic volumes are invariably taken into account in determining the appropriate design standard for each road improvement scheme submitted to my Department by a road authority. Detailed surveys and studies into various aspects of the road problem have been and are being conducted by my Department, by An Foras Forbartha and by the road authorities. Furthermore the results of these surveys and studies must be considered and refined, where necessary, in the light of the local and regional development plans.