Written Answers. - National Roads Network.
Peter Barry
Ceist:
11
Mr. Barry
asked the
Minister for the Environment
the amount of money that was allocated through his Department by the Exchequer to the National Roads Authority in 1994; the programme of work to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:
16
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for the Environment
if he intends to provide funding for the provision of a second bridge over the River Suir at Waterford; and, if so, when such funding will be made available.
Jim Higgins
Ceist:
20
Mr. J. Higgins
asked the
Minister for the Environment
the number of meetings he has had and the degree of liaison that exists, between him and the National Roads Authority on policy matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Paul Bradford
Ceist:
21
Mr. Bradford
asked the
Minister for the Environment
if responsibility for road grants, policy and procedures in relation to the national roads programme now rests with the National Roads Authority which receives considerable funding from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
John Browne
Ceist:
33
Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny)
asked the
Minister for the Environment
when the go-ahead for the new bridge across the River Barrow in Carlow will be given in view of the traffic congestion.
John Browne
Ceist:
36
Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny)
asked the
Minister for the Environment
the plans, if any, he has for the provision of money for the by-pass in Carlow.
Pádraic McCormack
Ceist:
46
Mr. McCormack
asked the
Minister for the Environment
the reason Galway County Council were not allowed to proceed with work on reconstructing Headford Square, County Galway which is included in the roads estimate for 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Dermot Ahern
Ceist:
71
Mr. D. Ahern
asked the
Minister for the Environment
if his attention has been drawn to the fears of residents in the Dublin Road area of Dundalk, County Louth regarding the dangers associated with the volume of cars and lorries on the road, the measures, if any, his Department, in conjunction with Louth County Council can take to ameliorate the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 16, 20, 21, 33, 36, 46 and 71 together.
The National Roads Authority is an independent statutory body which has been given overall responsibility, under the Roads Act, 1993, for ensuring the provision of a safe and efficient network of national roads. Section 19 of the Act spells out the functions of the Authority in relation to the planning and implementation of roadworks, and gives the Authority sole responsibility for the allocation of grants for individual projects.
My powers under the Roads Act are limited to certain broad policy, financial, and quasi-judicial functions such as the approval of motorway schemes, the payment of block grants to the Authority and the issue of directions and guidelines. I have no function in relation to the day-to-day administration and management of the work programme on national roads or in relation to the allocation of funds for individual projects. Deputies will appreciate, therefore, that I am not in a position to provide specific information in relation to individual national roads projects.
The Operational Programme on Transport, which was prepared in consultation with the National Roads Authority, will be published as soon as possible after its approval by the European Commission. While the Programme will not list every individual national road improvement project which will be commenced between now and 1999, it is my intention that it will contain an indicative list of the major projects to be commenced and/or completed during the period.
I am aware of the needs and concerns of Deputies who may wish to have more detailed information in relation to progress on particular projects. I propose, therefore, to initiate early discussions with the Chairman of the National Roads Authority with a view to putting in place arrangements which will enable Deputies to obtain relevant information conveniently and expeditiously.
Government policy in relation to national roads was clearly set out in the National Development Plan. I elaborated on particular aspects of the Authority's functions when I spoke to its first meeting on 19 January last, which was the only occasion on which I have met the Authority to date. A copy of that speech has already been placed in the Oireachtas Library. I formally consulted the Authority on the national roads aspects of the draft Operational Programme on Transport, prior to its submission to the EU Commission, and on my review of the classification of national roads. In addition, there is ongoing liaison and regular contact between officials of my Department and the Authority.
The provision for State grants to the Authority in 1994 totals £196.4 million; of this amount, £1.6 million is in respect of the administration and general expenses of the Authority, with the balance intended to meet the cost of improvement and maintenance works on national roads.
