Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that all motorways under construction and planned will include an adequate number of rest areas and service stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24378/07]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress of plans to retrofit rest areas on motorways here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24377/07]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Transport the action he proposes to take under section 41 of the Roads Act 1993 or otherwise, to ensure that the National Roads Authority provides a more effective policy on the provision of lay-bys and set down areas on motorways and major inter-urban routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24255/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 75 and 80 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The detailed planning, design and implementation of national road projects including the possible provision of service and/or rest areas on or near these routes, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Roads Act 2007, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities concerned.

In recognition of the important role service area facilities can play in improving the safety of the national road network my predecessor as Minister for Transport asked the NRA in late 2005, to review their service area policy. Arising from this review the NRA announced a strategy to provide service areas at intervals (where feasible and practicable) of approximately 50-60kms along national routes. I understand that these service areas will offer a full range of services including retail services as well as extensive car and HGV parking facilities.

Late last year, the NRA identified optimum locations for up to 12 service areas on the major-inter-urban routes (M1, M4/N4, N6, M7/N7, N8, N9) as well as the N6/N18 and N11 routes. The NRA is giving priority to the roll out of the service areas programme in view of the range of facilities they will afford to road users. The distribution envisaged, approximately at intervals of 50-60 kms, should substantially cater for road user needs. I understand that they are in dialogue with local authorities on issues relating to the provision and operation of rest areas, including operational and maintenance issues. Future strategy in this regard will be kept under review in light of these discussions and the extent to which the prioritised service areas programme addresses user needs taking account of the characteristics of the national road network, including distances between urban centres and journey times.

Service area facilities will be procured through open, competitive tendering using the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism. The NRA has already begun the PPP procurement process for two service areas on the M1 and one on the M4. They are also actively pursuing site acquisition for other proposed areas on the rest of the national road network. It is anticipated that the first service area facilities will begin to come on stream on Ireland's motorway network by 2009.