Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 4

Written Answers. - Road Development Plans.

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

151 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment whether there is undue emphasis on access to Dublin from Sligo and Galway under the proposed Western Euro Route; and the access that is planned from the mid-western region. [13519/96]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Howlin)

The Operational Programme for Transport, 1994 to 1999, outlines the strategy for the development of the network of national roads over that period. The development strategy for national primary roads focuses on the following four key corridors: North-South Corridor (Euroroutes E01 and E30, National Routes N1, N11 and N25); Southwest Corridor (Euroroutes E20 and E201, National Routes N7, N8, N18 and N19); East/West Corridor (National Routes N4, N6 and N16); and the Western Corridor (National Routes N17, N18, N24 and N25).

The programme provides that priority is to be given to these strategic corridors and that at least 70 per cent of the total investment on national primary routes will be allocated to them. I am satisfied that the mid-east region will be well served by the development of these corridors.