Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Transport if he intends to amend Part V of the Roads Act 1993 as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 with a view to lifting the toll barriers on the M50 toll bridge in view of the fact that the bridge is now in State ownership; and if he could give a clear response as to his intentions. [31604/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Roads Act 2007 provides the necessary statutory basis to facilitate the implementation of free flow open road tolling (also known as "barrier-free" tolling) on toll-based national roads. The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads, including the M50, is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has made a decision in relation to the application by Kildare County Council for a specific grant to improve safety at Firmount Crossroads, Clane, County Kildare. [31607/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority (NRA). The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of the Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on accident data, inspection of sites, locations showing demonstrable hazard and discussions between the local authority and the NRA.

Earlier this year, local authorities were invited to submit applications for consideration for funding in 2008 under the Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants for non-national roads. Kildare County Council submitted a number of schemes but these do not include an application for works at Firmount Crossroads, Clane. The 2008 non-national road grant allocations to local authorities will be announced early next year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Transport if he or his Department have received correspondence from the Irish Road Haulage Association in the matter of M50 free tolling; if he will favourably consider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31623/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the Irish Road Haulage Association have made representations to my Department in the matter of M50 tolls. Issues relating to tolls on national roads are in the first instance a matter for the National Roads Authority. As the Deputy is aware, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads, is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).