Jim Mitchell
Ceist:28 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a statement on his proposals for the improvement of the Dublin-Belfast road to the Border; and if he will give details of the timescale involved.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin-Belfast Motorway.
It is the intention to provide a motorway on the N1 from Dublin to the Border. Priority has been given to the development of the following strategic sections of the route:
The Dunleer by-pass will be 10.25 kms long and will by-pass Dunleer from Monasterboice to Capoge bridge. The main contract for construction of the scheme was signed in February, 1991 and work is in progress. It is expected that the road will be open to traffic in autumn 1993 at a cost of £24 million (1989 prices).
The Balbriggan by-pass will involve 12 km of new route from south of Balrothery to north of Gormanstown. Dublin County Council are preparing a motorway order scheme for the route under the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act, 1974. Construction is scheduled for the period 1993-1996 at a cost of £30 million (1989 prices).
The scheme for the Dundalk by-pass involves the construction of a 10.5 km by-pass to the west of Dundalk with a link to the existing N1 at Ballymascanlon. Construction is scheduled for the period 1993-1997 at a cost of £26 million (1989 prices).
The phasing of construction work on the balance of the route will be determined in the context of the preparation of road development plans for the period after 1993.
Will the Minister not agree that it should be one of the top priorities to have a motorway all the way between Dublin and Belfast and that we should be pressing forward with a motorway all the way to the Border before the end of this century?
Yes, of course. The Deputy will notice that in the operational programme for peripherality which was agreed with the EC, we have given top priority to this particular Euro route.
That disposes of questions for today.