asked the Minister for the Environment if he has sought assistance from the special EMS fund for the development of the Southern Cross Route as approved by Dublin County Council.
5.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Southern Cross Route.
4.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will designate the Southern Cross Route as part of European Route EO 1, thereby qualifying it for assistance from EEC funds.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.
Various sections of the Western Parkway/Southern Cross Route, for which I have allocated road grants, were included as part of Ireland's application to the European Investment Bank for loan facilities in 1979. Loans approved on foot of this application qualify for EMS interest subsidy. Further loans attracting EMS interest subsidies will be made available for these schemes in the coming years. Additional sections of the route will be included in future applications for EEC aid as plans are approved and road grants are made available. In the circumstances the status of the Southern Cross Route does not arise.
Is the Minister aware of the considerable disappointment in relation to his statement that the status of the Southern Cross Route does not arise in relation to the matters raised by Deputy Andrews? Would he not agree that the Department effectively have to make a choice between designating the Southern Cross Route as EO 1 and the Eastern by-pass as EO 1, and can he give some indication of his thinking on this matter?
European routes have been set out in the European agreement on main international traffic arteries. The question of Ireland's accession to the agreement is at present under consideration. It will be a matter for this country to decide the detailed sections of roads comprising the E routes. Provisional E routes are already available on maps.
Is it not true that if the Department—the Minister will agree the Department have the effective deciding power in the matter—decide to designate the Eastern by-pass as route EO 1 it will be much more difficult to get European funds for the Southern Cross Route?
That is if we decide to designate it as an E route. It has been included in the application for funds.
I have been speaking about the Southern Cross Route.
Sections of it.
Which sections of it?
Will the Minister indicate how much additional money he will apply for in relation to the development of the Southern Cross Route? Which sections of that route is he referring to?
The sections which were involved in the last application were Tallaght Road to Greenhills Road, Greenhills Road to Naas Road and Tallaght Road to Firhouse Road.
Has the Minister any request for funds for the development of the section from Harold's Grange to Firhouse?
It may be included in the current year's submissions. I will tell the Deputy if it has been.
Can the Minister indicate what the current thinking is in the Department as to whether the Southern Cross Route of the Eastern by-pass will be designated as the Dublin section of EO 1.
As I have already said, there are provisional routes which are provisionally designated under the E system. Further ones can be considered later.
The Minister is not from Dublin and may not know this. Will EO 1 run from Santry, west of Dublin, through the Southern Cross Route or will it run east of Dublin to the southern by-pass? Do the Department know, or has the Minister had a recommendation?
They are main arteries, main roads. No decisions have been made in this regard.
Does the provisional route run west or east of Dublin?
The provisional route goes south-west and south—the main arteries.
Does it go via Sandymount Strand or does the Minister know—have the Department told the Minister?
It is not a matter of being told. I have a small map and according to the map it is the direct road out of Dublin to Limerick and Cork.
Is the Southern Cross Route designated either as a proposed eastern European route——
I have told the Deputy it is the one leaving Dublin. I have told the Deputy that the question of Ireland's accession to the agreement is being considered.
The Department have published a booklet showing designated E routes. I am now asking if the eastern by-pass forms part of these designated routes or does the Southern Cross Route? The Minister does not seem to have a clue.
I have given the Deputy the provisional routes which are main arteries out of Dublin.
Does the Minister not know that it runs from Belfast to Rosslare?
That is only one route or part of two routes. There is a third one. In all, there are three provisional routes. The one the Deputy is referring to runs out of Dublin.
Does it go out of Dublin?
I have not actual details of the different townlands in Dublin, but to me it seems like a straight line leaving Dublin via the Naas Road. If the Deputy wants the details I will let him have them.
This should be in the Minister's brief.
It should not be in my brief. I have given the Deputy the main outline of the provisional routes.
Question No. 6 postponed.