Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I assume the Deputy's question refers to the concept of a Dublin outer orbital route. Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 1999 and the Dublin Transportation Office document, Platform for Change 2000, identified a possible need for a Dublin outer orbital route to link Drogheda, Navan and Naas. More recently, Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area 2004 made provision for the development of such a route in the medium to long term on the basis that the centres in question would be strengthened by the provision of decent links which do not pass through the Dublin city area.

A 2001 strategic study commissioned by the NRA concluded that a Dublin outer orbital route had significant merit and was feasible on engineering and environmental grounds. Apart from identifying a possible corridor for an outer orbital, the 2001 report did not consider route options, appropriate road type and costs as it constituted simply a high-level strategic study of the concept. Detailed consideration of these and other issues, including spatial planning, land use, environmental impact and the appropriate type and class of road to be provided, will be the subject of further studies.

I have asked the NRA to carry out these further studies and consider the proposed route as part of future road infrastructure development plans. The NRA will take into account in its deliberations the national spatial strategy, regional planning guidelines and the planning and traffic implications of the route for greater Dublin and neighbouring regions. The proposal will also be considered in the context of the ten-year transport investment framework being prepared within my Department.

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