Vol. 555 No. 3
238 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the position in regard to the planned arterial road networks; if he expects early and satisfactory progress towards achieving the targets set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18582/02]
The national development plan sets out a strategic framework for the development of national roads and provides for investment of €6.75 billion in national road improvements over the period 2000-06. It is a matter for the National Roads Authority 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 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.
It is clear that good progress has been made with the development of the national roads network as mandated in the NDP, including on the five key inter-urban routes. Fifteen major schemes, involving 106 km of roadway were completed in 2001, including such major projects as Dunleer-Dundalk (M1) and Southern Cross Route (M50).
Over €1 billion, the highest allocation ever, and nearly twice the level of funding in 1999, is being provided to the NRA in 2002 for the improvement and maintenance of national roads. This year work is under way or has been completed on over 20 major projects with a combined length of over 200 kms including the M1-N1 – Cloghran-Balbriggan and Drogheda by-pass; Dublin Port tunnel, N4 – Celbridge Interchange; N7 – Kildare bypass, Watergrasshill bypass, Limerick Southern Ring Road; and on the M50 – South-Eastern Motorway.
Good progress has also been made in the roll out of the NRA's PPP programme and four projects – Kilcock-Kinnegad, Waterford City bypass, Dundalk western bypass and Fermoy bypass – are at tender stage. The NRA is also examining the scope for extension of its PPP programme.
