Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Transport the status within his Department of the Iarnród Éireann proposal for an interconnector south of the River Liffey; the timetable for the completion of the inter-urban motorways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26761/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Iarnród Éireann recently submitted to my Department a strategy document that sets out the business case for the development of a greater Dublin integrated rail network. The proposal to construct an interconnector rail tunnel between Heuston Station and the docklands is a part of the plan. My Department is in the process of evaluating the business case at present.

The current position in relation to the upgrading of the five major inter-urban routes to motorway and high quality dual carriageway standard is that the M1 is expected to be fully complete by the end of 2006. Work is under way on major projects on the N7 — Monasterevin bypass, on the N8 — Cashel bypass, on the N4-N6 —Kilcock-Kinnegad. Work is expected to start this year on the Dundalk western bypass and Dundalk to Newry on the M1, on the N8 — Fermoy bypass , and on the N7 — Naas Road widening.

Completion of these projects will eliminate many of the major bottlenecks on these routes. In addition it is expected that compulsory purchase orders and environmental impact statements for the remaining projects in planning on these routes will either be approved by, or be before, an Bord Pleanála by the end of 2004. Regarding the national roads programme overall it should be noted that since 2000 a total of 44 projects — more than 310 km. — have been completed. Work is in progress on 21 projects — 213 km. — and another nine projects — 147 km. — are at tender stage.