Vol. 555 No. 3
122 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to review the current legislation to make the National Roads Authority answerable to the floor of the House; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18294/02]
Under Section 17 of the Roads Act, 1993, the National Roads Authority has overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction and maintenance of national roads. The Minister for Transport, and formerly the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, appoints the members of the authority, is responsible for the payment of block grants to the authority, certain broad policy matters, and until 2000 performed quasi-judicial functions such as the approval of motorway schemes and road developments the subject of environmental impact statements. Under the Planning and Development Act, 2000, the above quasi-judicial functions transferred to An Bord Pleanála. The Minister for Transport is answerable to the Houses of the Oireachtas as regards the functions vested in him.
The policy framework for the improvement of national roads is set out in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, together with the Community Support Framework and the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme. Within this framework, it is a matter for the NRA to prioritise and schedule individual road improvement projects and to progress them in co-operation with local authorities. The Minister has 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. This division of responsibility has been approved by the Oireachtas and enshrined in legislation passed by both Houses.
The NRA's annual report and accounts must be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the accounts must be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Dáil must also approve the annual grant to the NRA and is involved in determining the policy framework within which the NRA operates. In addition to oversight by the Public Accounts Committee, the NRA is also periodically called before Oireachtas Committees as regards its operations and general stewardship of the national roads network. These arrangements afford reasonable opportunities for Deputies to question the NRA about its day to day operations.
Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 80.
Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 104.
