Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the review of the national roads programme; his views on future projects on the national roads programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17951/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21.

The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

The Government has already made it clear that under Transport 21, its priorities for the national roads investment programme, after the completion of the major inter-urban network in 2010, will be the Atlantic Road Corridor as well as the improvement of other key strategic routes.

It is clear that, in the current economic climate, progress on national roads projects will only be possible as and when resources become available.

Additionally, in line with the undertaking in the Renewed Programme for Government, I have already asked the National Roads Authority (NRA) to review the completion dates and appropriate road design standards of roads projects at the design, or earlier, stage of development, in the light of the economic circumstances, falling road usage and climate change. I expect this report to be completed by late Summer 2010. A list of projects can be found in NRA Programme Status 2010 appended to the NRA 2009 Annual Report or on its website.