Dinny McGinley
Ceist:74 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment the stage of planning arrived at regarding the Donegal town bypass project; the stages yet to be completed; and when work will commence on the scheme.
Written Answers. - Donegal Town Bypass Project.
With effect from 1 January 1994, the National Roads Authority took over the strategic management of the national roads programme and the overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction and maintenance of national roads, including the proposed N15 Donegal town bypass. I will, of course, continue to exercise overall policy supervision, provide a block grant to the authority and carry out certain quasi-judical functions in relation to national roads, including the determination of compulsory purchase orders and motorway schemes.
A compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of lands necessary for the proposed Donegal town bypass was received from Donegal County Council on 24 September 1993. A public local inquiry has recently been held into the objections made to me against confirmation of the order and into the propriety of confirming it in so far as it relates to extinguishment of public rights-of-way. I will make a decision on the matter as soon as possible.