Vol. 395 No. 5
73 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment when site works will commence on the Leixlip/Kilcock by-pass on the N4; if all advance planning and land acquisition has been completed; if anything remains to be done before work starts; the current projected cost of the entire work; if tenders have been accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In June, 1988, I made an order approving Kildare County Council's motorway scheme for the Kilcock/ Maynooth/Leixlip by-pass. The detailed planning for the scheme is primarily a matter for the local authority. I understand that the acquisition of the necessary lands is proceeding and that the local authority is at present preparing draft contract documents for the scheme.
The estimated cost of the scheme is £50 million — 1989 prices. State road grant provisions for the scheme to date amount to £6.54 million, including a road grant allocation of £4 million for 1990 to meet preliminary costs, including property acquisition.
A draft operational programme for roads and other transport infrastructure has been submitted to the EC Commission in accordance with the Community Support Framework adopted by the Commission. Pending finalisation of the programme, it is not proposed to indicate the phasing of major schemes to be undertaken in the period up to 1993.
