Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Transport the specific statutory instrument that requires a local authority or contractor to apply the National Roads Authority's manual of contract documents for road works, the National Roads Authority's design manual for roads and bridges, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's surface dressing manual and traffic signs manual or other such National Roads Authority or Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government road work standards. [37417/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Transport the specific statutory instrument that requires a local authority or contractor to provide a temporary road surface sign when resurfacing a road. [37418/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Transport the standards approved under section 19(1)([i]g[/i])of the Roads Act 1993. [37419/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Transport the statutory minimum standards as opposed to guidelines or recommendations that are set down by his Department in respect of road resurfacing. [37421/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 158 to 161, inclusive, together.

The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the specification of standards under section 19 of the Roads Act 1993, are a matter for the NRA.

I understand that NRA's Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, which was originally published in December 2000, contains standards and advice notes relating to the design, assessment and operation of national roads in Ireland. The NRA requires that the design manual be used on all projects for the construction and/or improvement of national roads.

While the design manual is not a statutory document, the NRA, as the agency with responsibility for the construction and maintenance of the national roads network and the funding of individual projects, requires that the technical standards specified in the document be adhered to.

The NRA's Specification for Road Works, which was originally published in March 2000, contains detailed specifications for all elements of road works. The full document or relevant parts are included as part of the contract documents for individual road construction or improvement projects and must therefore be complied with as a contractual obligation.

While the design manual and specification guidelines are intended primarily for use on national roads I understand that the documents may be used, at the discretion of road authorities, on non-national roads.

There are no statutory minimum standards in relation to road resurfacing. I am informed that both the NRA's Specification for Road Works and Design Manual for Roads and Bridges include requirements regarding road surfacing and resurfacing.

Guidance and recommendations regarding the provision and use of warning signs for road works, including road surfacing and surface dressing operations, are set out in chapter 8 of the traffic signs manual published by my Department.

The present manual, which constitutes a direction given to road authorities by the Minister for Transport pursuant to section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, is currently the subject of a comprehensive review. A draft of the chapter of the manual relating to the traffic sign system applied at roadwork sites has been prepared. The draft document is now in the process of being issued to local authorities and other interested parties to afford them the opportunity to provide input before its publication, which is expected in the first quarter of 2006.