Written answers

Tuesday, 23 October 2007

10:00 pm

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 295: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide outline plans for the proposed outer orbital road for the greater Dublin region. [25184/07]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would refer the Deputy to Questions Nos. 8, 45 and 71 put to me on Thursday last in this connection. The position is unchanged.

As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities concerned.

Both Transport 21 and the National Development Plan committed the NRA to carrying out a feasibility study on the Orbital Route. Earlier this year, the NRA completed an updated feasibility study which built on an earlier 2001 study, looking in particular at the costs and benefits of such a route. The updated NRA study finds that there is merit in constructing an Orbital Route linking Drogheda/Navan/Naas.

As part of the study various possible route corridors were examined in detail. A corridor linking Drogheda to Navan to Naas was identified as the optimum route having regard to the policy objectives set out in the various policy documents on the route.

Neither Transport 21 nor the National Development Plan provide any funding for the scheme to be brought through planning/ preliminary design or to construction in the period to 2015. The study is currently under detailed consideration within my Department.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.