I propose to answer Question Nos. 438, 451 and 459 together.
It is a matter for the National Roads Authority to ensure that motorways and dual carriageways are equipped with appropriate containment barriers in accordance with the NRA's design manual for roads and bridges. Funding is available to the NRA as part of its annual block grant for the improvement of national roads –€1.209 billion in 2003 – to meet the cost of such barriers.
I am aware that the NRA, as a matter of practice, keeps road design standards, including safety aspects, under regular review. The position in relation to the provision of median safety barriers on motorways is that the NRA, in July 2001, amended its design to provide for median safety barriers on all new motorways with a central reservation of less than 15 m and has commenced a programme of retrofitting median safety barriers to existing motorways with a central reservation of less than 15 m.
In relation to the M1, I understand from the NRA that a contract for the provision of median barriers on the Dunleer-Dundalk motorway is currently being tendered.