Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2007
1226 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the Government’s plans to upgrade the N4 to dual carriageway or motorway in the context of the forthcoming National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1114/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra1227 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the Government’s plans to upgrade the N3 to dual carriageway or motorway in the context of the forthcoming National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1115/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra1228 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the Government’s plans to upgrade the N2 to dual carriageway or motorway in the context of the forthcoming National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1116/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra1229 Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Transport the Government’s plans to upgrade the N5 to dual carriageway or motorway in the context of the forthcoming National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1117/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1226 to 1229, inclusive, together.
Under Section 17 of the Roads Act, 1993, overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the relevant local authority concerned.
Under the Roads Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan, some €13.3 billion will be invested in national roads. The principal objectives of the Roads Sub-Programme are as follows. Completion by 2010 of the major inter-urban routes linking Dublin with Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The upgrade of the M50 by 2010 which will convert to barrier free tolling in 2008. Improvement of road links between the main NSS Gateways. Ongoing development of the Atlantic Road Corridor from Letterkenny through Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. Continued upgrading of road links to Northern Ireland. Targeted improvements of a number of key national secondary routes. Investment in strategic non-national roads which will compliment the national roads investment.
Investment in national roads will be utilised to implement the objectives of the National Spatial Strategy. Particular focus will therefore be on investment in road routes which link the Gateways, including major upgrading of the Atlantic Road Corridor, which links many of the Gateways outside Dublin. Among the national secondary routes to be prioritized will be routes between the Gateways outside Dublin including upgrading roads linking the Midland Gateway centres of Athlone, Tullamore and Mullingar. In combination with the Sub-Programme there will also be significant investment in key routes impacting on NSS Gateways, Hubs and County towns.
