I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 267, inclusive, together.
The implementation of the south eastern motorway project including issues in relation to the archaeological costs is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I am informed by the NRA that the original targeted completion date was September 2004 and that the current target for the completion of the full project is September 2005, subject to the satisfactory resolution of outstanding legal issues regarding national monuments. Expenditure on the project to date on archaeological investigations and excavations amounts to €10 million, including €6.5 million relating to the Carrickmines section. The cost of archaeological investigations and excavations yet to be undertaken is estimated at €2 million, including €1 million on the Carrickmines section.
The additional works proposed at the Lehaunstown interchange are being funded by the private sector with no public moneys involved. These works mainly involve increasing the capacity of the interchange bridge to accommodate three lanes of traffic in each direction by providing an additional bridge over the M50 at the Lehaunstown interchange. The purpose of the revised junction arrangement is to take account of current land zonings in the area and the traffic associated with that. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has arranged with the company involved that the construction of the interchange will not interfere with the timetable for the completion of the south eastern motorway.