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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Other Questions. - Construction of Cork Ring-road.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

12 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received a submission from Cork Corporation for funding to construct a ring-road linking the north west of Cork City to the south west, thereby eliminating the heavy traffic on the Commons Road, Gerald Griffin Street, Shandon Street, Blarney Street, Shanakiel, Sunday's Well, Gurranabraher, Churchfield, Farranree, Harbour View Road and Knocknaheeny with sliproads off the estates; and the plans and costings, if any, which have been submitted on this matter. [16094/97]

No such submission has been received by my Department. Assuming the road in question would be a non-national road, its construction would be a matter for the road authority or authorities concerned and would fall to be funded from their resources supplemented by State grants.

Will the Minister indicate why he believes such a road would be non-national?

It appears to be non-national from the information supplied by the Deputy.

It would seem a road which goes from the north west to the south west of Cork city would qualify as a national road. Many people, including tourists and those involved in transport, use that route. This road would replace the national route I use when I travel from the north west to the south west of Cork city. Will the Minister think again?

The Minister has the power to designate by order.

The Minister has that power but no amount of wishful thinking from the Deputy opposite will make this a national road before it is a road. The question asked if I had received a submission from Cork Corporation, and I have not.

That is fine. It is obviously a matter to which Cork Corporation will have to turn its attention. If the Minister were in my shoes, would he find it worrying that the Minister for the Environment and Local Government assumed that this road would be non-national when patently such a road would be a major link in our national network?

We are talking hypothetically because there is no such road.

Is the Minister likely to provide one?

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