asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to inform all the local authorities of the precise details of the new powers which the National Roads Authority will have with respect to the design, prioritisation, financing construction and maintenance of the national primary roads system; if he will indicate whether legislation is needed to give full effect to his proposed national roads authority; if so, when it is intended to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - National Roads Authority.
74.
I am at present finalising my proposals in relation to the functions, staffing, funding and membership of the proposed National Roads Authority. I intend to put these proposals to the Government in the near future.
I think the Minister would agree with me that the near future is a very movable feast with regard to this objective. In relation to the question I have down for priority to him today, will he indicate whether he knows if legislation will be required? As it obviously is, from his response, can he give an indication as to whether the heads of that Bill have been circulated and, if so, when is it intended to have the Bill brought before the House?
I did promise certain legislation and I did not keep to the timescale. I think the Deputy will agree that I did deliver in the end, in particular on the Housing Bill.
The Minister does not know when he is going to take it.
What can I do if the Deputy's Whips and other Whips agreed?
The Minister cannot play that game. If he wanted the Bill, he could take it.
Legislation will be required in any case.
Have the heads of the Bill been circulated?
No. The decisions that I finally have to take in the matter could be concluded within a month and I should like to go to Government in that timescale. If it were necessary, in order to speed up the business, I would favourably consider an interim authority, a vehicle which has been used before, until such time as the legislation is forthcoming. I will be pleased to hear the Deputy's attitude on that, because I would be prepared to go along that road if I thought that I had support for it.
Not from here, you would not.
You do not, as such, need specific legislation to establish the authority in the first instance, or to initiate some of the work. Is that not correct?
No, I do not. In fact, the plan for road development for the next 20 years is virtually completed. I shall be publishing that. It would be my intention that the new authority would have a huge role to play in so far as design, construction and seeking new funding are concerned. Those areas will be critical to the authority's remit.
Is it not true to say the new authority could be set up by way of the very same mechanism the Minister used to set up the environmental research unit in that the legislation which I have in mind can only consist in taking away statutory powers from local authorities in respect of the national primary roads system?
I think that it goes beyond that. There might be easier vehicles that could be used to set it up but, in my opinion, it must be set up in a way that will stand up both to the test of time and to scrutiny. Local authorities have played a major role and I see them still continuing to be involved in the question of roadworks. However, we are talking here about national primary and national secondary roads and major access to ports and airports, 7 per cent of the total network. That is all there would be an involvement with.
A 20-year-old plan. The Minister does not know where he will be next week.
I call Question No. 75 from Deputy Boland.
This is your question, Deputy.
Thanks. Is that the answer?