Vol. 436 No. 4
28 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the serious traffic difficulties being encountered by the users of the Dublin/Waterford route at Thomastown, County Kilkenny; if proposals to by-pass the town of Thomastown will be included in the operational programme 1994-1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will ensure that the provision of a by-pass at Thomastown, County Kilkenny, will be included in the operational programme that will be submitted to EU for approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
54 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment if an extension to the ring road at Kilkenny city will be included in the operational programme for 1994-1999 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 43 and 54 together.
On 22 October 1993, Kilkenny County Council submitted a report to my Department outlining funding requirements for national roads in its functional area and recommended the inclusion of a by-pass of Thomastown and the Kilkenny Ring Road Extension in the Transport Operational Programme under the National Development Plan, 1994-1999. The council have also submitted preliminary designs for the schemes to my Department. The question of including these projects is being considered in the preparation of the programme. In this context, I will have to have regard to the estimated cost of the projects, projected traffic volumes, the number of major improvement schemes requiring funding countrywide and the overall funds available.
