Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 5

Written Answers. - County Kildare By-pass.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

153 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment when he or his Department sanctioned the contracts for the N4 by-pass Leixlip to Kilcock, County Kildare; whether he has satisfied himself that all tenders approved were adequately tested to ensure their feasibility; if he has further satisfied himself with hindsight, that all contracts approved were within normal feasibility standards; if any contracts are likely to remain incomplete; the cost of such outstanding works; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

161 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment the extent to which his Department and the local authority were involved in the sanction of contracts and the supervision of works relating to the N4 Kilcock to Leixlip by-pass, County Kildare, prior to 1 January 1994; the extent to which he is currently involved in relation to such work; if, in the context of his involvement, his attention had or has been drawn to the local dissatisfaction with both vertical and horizontal alignments which have caused serious devaluation of dwellings and homes in respect of which no compensation was paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 161 together.

The Kilcock-Maynooth-Leixlip by-pass, which is being provided by Kildare County Council, is being carried out in two main contracts. The award of the first contracts, which is for the provision of approximately 10km of two lane dual motorway, 1.5km of single lane carriageway, an interchange at Straffan Road, five other bridges and associated works on the line of the by-pass between the Maynooth-Celbridge Road to a point about 3km west of Kilcock, was approved by the then Minister for the Environment on 12 August 1991. The award of the second contract, which is for the construction of approximately 6.2km of dual two-lane motorway, 1km of single carriageway at the Leixlip-Celbridge Road, 2km of single carriageway at the Lucan-Celbridge Road, 2km of other accommodation roads and ramps generally, the construction of a major crossing of the River Liffey near Leixlip, the Leixlip Interchange Bridge and three other bridges and associated works on the line of the by-pass from the Lucan by-pass to the Maynooth-Celbridge Road, was approved by me on 2 October 1992. The award of both contracts was made only after full consideration of the tenders by Kildare County Council and then by my Department. Both main contractors are considered to be progressing the scheme satisfactorily.

The composition of the county council team supervising these contracts was approved by my Department and the costs involved are chargeable against road grant.

With effect from 1 January 1994 the National Roads Authority took over from my Department 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 Kilcock-Maynooth-Leixlip by-pass project. While I continue to exercise overall policy supervision, provide a block grant to the authority and carry out certain quasi-judicial functions in relation to national roads, neither I nor my Department have responsibility for day-to-day supervision of the work programme.