Vol. 399 No. 12
76 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment if all necessary funding will be provided to Dublin County Council to enable all environmental works to be carried out along the route of the Southern Cross, including works required to reduce the sound of traffic as it may affect estates adjacent to the route and all landscaping works required.
It is a matter for Dublin County Council to proceed with the detailed planning of this scheme, including the relevant environmental considerations and, in the current year, I have provided a road grant of £1,350,000 for this purpose.
The local authority are at present preparing a motorway scheme, a compulsory purchase order and an environmental impact study in respect of the proposed Southern Cross Route. The environmental impact study will be prepared in accordance with the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Motorway) Regulations, 1988 which require that the study contain a description of the measures envisaged in order to avoid, reduce and, if possible, remedy any significant adverse environmental effects of the proposed motorway. In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act, 1974 a public local inquiry must be held into all matters relating to a motorway scheme before it can be approved.
Subject to the statutory procedures involved, the cost of the approved scheme, together with any environmental works required to be undertaken, will be met from the State road grants.
