Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Transport the legislative and procedural changes he proposes in view of the lessons learned from a fatal road traffic accident (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9191/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have no proposals for any legislative changes arising out of the fatal road accident to which the Deputy refers.

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

I understand that the 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.

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 is included as part of the contract documents for individual road construction or improvement projects and must therefore be complied with as a contractual obligation.

I am informed by the NRA that the standards and requirements in relation to road surfacing and resurfacing have been further elaborated in NRA circulars 6/2002, 7/2002 and 05/2005. In 2005, the NRA consolidated the relevant contents of circulars 6/2002 and 7/2002 and issued circular 05/2005 to all local authorities restating the requirements outlined in the earlier circulars and supplementing where necessary the guidance provided.

The NRA allocates funding to local authorities for road pavement schemes taking account of up-to-date road condition surveys. It is a matter for individual local authorities, in accordance with their statutory responsibilities under section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, to undertake the necessary works. In this regard the local authorities are required by the NRA to observe the standards set out in the Specification for Roadworks and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. In performing its functions under the Roads Act, I understand from the NRA that local authorities have supervisory personnel in place to ensure that standards and specifications are being met by road contractors.

It is a matter for the NRA to keep under review the procedures, requirements and advice to which I have referred above.