Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2004
264 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he will be introducing legislation to facilitate the provision of an outer orbital road route around Dublin; and if he will introduce legislation to make special arrangements for accountability to Dáil Éireann for the strategic thinking with regard to, and spatial planning implications of the decision to have such a route. [5187/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area 1999 and the DTO's Platform for Change 2000-2016 identified a need for a Dublin outer orbital route linking Drogheda, Navan, Naas and Newbridge.
I understand that the draft regional planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area, currently in public consultation, also provide for the development of such a route in the medium to longer term on the basis that these centres would be strengthened by the provision of good links between them without having to pass through the Dublin city area. I am informed by the NRA that the proposed route is not at this time part ofits current programme of national road improvement works in planning. I understand that it will be considered as part of future road infrastructure development plans taking account of the national spatial strategy, the regional planning guidelines as eventually adopted and the spatial planning and traffic implications of such a route for the greater Dublin region and neighbouring regions.
The planning of any such projects would be subject to the requirements of the Roads Act 1993 relating to environmental impact assessment and of legislation relating to the compulsory acquisition of land. There are no proposals to introduce legislation to facilitate the provision of the route.
