Vol. 395 No. 5
67 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will initiate a review of the 1975 European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe with a view to improving accessibility to the European market from the west and midland regions through to the Port of Rosslare, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I do not propose to initiate a review for the following reasons outlined in my reply to Questions Nos. 128 to 130 on Wednesday, 31 January 1990: designation of a road as an E-route does not accord it any special status in respect of EC Structural Fund assistance under the Community Support Framework for Ireland; priorities for investment in national routes are determined on the basis of need and are not influenced by the classification or otherwise of a route as an E-route.
The question of improved access to the principal Irish ports and airports is being addressed in the operational programme for roads and other transport, a draft of which was submitted to the EC Commission and is currently under discussion with them.
