Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Roads Projects.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

1240 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out an assessment of the motorway proposals under the national development plan under the heading of value for money, with particular attention to: (i) traffic data vis-à-vis the road capacities being proposed; (ii) sustainability, with particular reference to the need to reduce the carbon emissions and to give people access to alternative forms of transport which are of a high quality; and (iii) opportunity costs and social desirability; the studies which have been carried out to fulfil these commitments; the timescale of his proposal to proceed with the construction of these motorways in respect of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16259/02]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

The national development plan, NDP, sets out a strategic framework for the development of the national roads network in the period to 2006.

It is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, within the NDP framework, to promote the work required and in co-operation with local authorities to manage the planning, design and implementation of individual road development projects.

The NDP strategy is based on a policy of providing a high quality of service on the national road network. In formulating the NDP roads programme, due consideration was given to policy issues such as regional and industrial development, sustainable transport, as well as the NRA's national road needs study which was published in 1998. The programme aims to remove bottlenecks, reduce traffic congestion and decrease journey times which will improve air quality and reduce road vehicle emissions.

The NDP provides for the upgrading of five main inter-urban routes in their entirety to motorway-high quality dual carriageway standard, Dublin to Border, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. This reflects the importance which the Government attaches to the transportation function served by these routes in the national context and the contribution they can make to greater accessibility, thereby assisting regional development.

The NDP also provides for major improvement works on other national primary routes and national secondary routes of particular importance to economic development. The determination of road types required for individual projects are a matter for the NRA, which has regard to a range of considerations when decisions are being made, including the national road needs study, current traffic data, and safety, environmental and financial issues.

Good progress has been made with the implementation of the NDP national roads programme, with record funding of more than €1 billion being allocated to the NRA in 2002. The Government is committed to maintaining a high level of investment in the national road network.