Transport Committee discusses national road network with NRA

14 November 2012  

Mr Barry told the committee the NRA have procured considerable provisions of gritting salt to be deployed in the event of a harsh winter, and are working to ensure the fifty most dangerous bends across the country were eliminated.

Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: “We thank Mr Barry for a wide-ranging and forthright engagement on our national road network. We heard that with funding for new road projects considerably curtailed in recent years, his Authority’s operations and staffing have been scaled back accordingly.   

“The Committee widely commended the NRA on their work in the improvements to Ireland’s road network, and the delivery of intercity motorways, in particular during the boom years. Mr Barry acknowledged that sub-standard sections still exist in what are otherwise good national roads and the NRA was working within the current funding constraints to upgrade these treacherous stretches. He said that his Authority was also working to ensure the fifty most dangerous bends across the country were eliminated.”

“A number of Committee Members pointed to problems facing landowners in securing planning permission in land earmarked for road development. Mr Barry said that it was important that such corridors were preserved and pointed to the M1, where a corridor existed for 40 years prior to development.  Mr Barry also pointed out that the NRA did not hold any land where there were no prospects of road development. 

“Members pointed to confusing signage that exists on many of our national routes and will take up the invitation to inform the Authority of signage issues on a case by case basis in ensuring such problems were rectified.  The Committee is also encouraged to hear that the Authority has procured considerable provisions of salt stocks for national roads that can be deployed in the event of a harsh winter.”  

For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353  87 694 9926

Committee Membership

Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
 Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
 Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
 Tom Fleming, Independent
 Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
 Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
 Colm Keaveney, Labour
 Seán Kenny, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
 Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
 John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
 Ann Phelan, Labour
 Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
 
Senators
 Terry Brennan
 Sean D. Barrett
 Eamonn Coghlan
 Paschal Mooney
 Ned O’Sullivan
 John Whelan