Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in view of the fact that the outer orbital route from north Dublin/south Meath to the M7 is not part of Transport 21, additional funding will be put in place to advance the project; and if this orbital route be extended from the M7 to the south as far as the N11 in north Wexford/south Wicklow. [28807/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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 local authorities concerned. Both Transport 21 and the National Development Plan committed the NRA to carrying out a feasibility study on the Leinster Orbital Route. Neither Transport 21 nor the National Development Plan provide any funding for this proposed 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 study is currently under detailed consideration within my Department. The route envisioned by the study does not extend to the N11.

Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to provide specific funding for new urban roads in fast developing areas to local authorities. [28808/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and improvement of non-national roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants. Road grants for non-national roads are allocated annually under a number of grant categories. These include grants for specific roads schemes and roads which support the aims of the National Spatial Strategy. These schemes make a particular contribution to provision and improvement of roads in areas experiencing population increases.

The level of grants allocated to individual authorities is determined each year having regard to a number of factors including the total funds available in a particular year, eligibility criteria for the different grant schemes, road pavement conditions, length of road network, the need to prioritise projects and competing demands from other local authorities. In determining the annual non-national road grant allocations, the overall objective is to resource each local authority appropriately in relation to their ongoing and special needs. Road grants for 2008 will be announced early in the new year.