asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the condition of the Ballyconnell-Belturbet-Cavan road; if it has further been drawn to the major improvements being carried out by the Northern authorities on the Lisnaskea-Ballyconnell road and the amount of traffic these improvements will generate in conjunction with the building of a large scale cement factory and secondary industries alongside this section of road; that there is a proposal at the moment to construct a large hotel outside Ballyconnell on this road; and in view of all this development, if he will upgrade this section of road to have the necessary major repairs carried out, as soon as possible.
Written Answers. - Cavan Road Improvements.
46.
The points raised by the Deputy have been drawn to my attention.
The road between Belturbet and Cavan forms part of the national primary route N.3. In 1988, I have allocated road grants totalling £585,000 to Cavan County Council for improvement works on the route. Ninety thousand pounds of this has been allocated for works at Butlersbridge, between Belturbet and Cavan.
The road from Ballyconnell to Belturbet is a non-national main road. Primary responsibility for the networks of non-national roads rests with the local authorities. The developments referred to by the Deputy are therefore primarily a matter for consideration by Cavan County Council in its assessment of the need for improvements to the Ballyconnell to Belturbet road.
I have not received a request from the local authority for the upgrading of this section of non-national main road and I have no plans to upgrade it at present.