Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The explanation provided by the NRA to Deputy Ring is completely unsatisfactory. During the holiday period additional days are added to the 28 days allowed for appeal. I cannot understand how this is the case. In a similar case north of Blessington the NRA appealed plans for a one-off house.

One of the major issues in my constituency is the condition of the national secondary road, the N81. Improvement of this route between Blessington and Tallaght was included in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 by the Government but nothing has happened. It was included in Transport 21, launched with such fanfare by the Minister for Transport. I have tabled questions to establish when work will be carried out on the N81 but they were ruled out of order. I wrote to the NRA who replied that there are no plans to carry out major works on the road. How can I find out what is the situation?

This is one of the most dangerous roads in the country. A number of people have been killed on it in recent years. Over the past ten years more than 400 accidents have occurred, leading to major and minor injuries. As a representative of the area, I cannot find out when improvement works will be started. I urge the Minister of State to contact the Minister for Transport to ascertain what is happening.

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