Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of applications for motorway service areas that have been submitted to his Department by the National Roads Authority; the number that have been approved to date by his Department; the reason there has been a delay in approving these applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3396/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Roads Authority (NRA) are not required to submit applications to me or my Department in relation to motorway service areas.

My involvement in the provision of service areas on the national road network relates to ensuring that the necessary legislative framework is in place to facilitate this provision. This was achieved last year with the enactment of the Roads Act 2007.

However, a Statutory Instrument is required to give effect to the provisions of that Act, insofar as it relates to service areas.

Officials from my Department are working with both the Attorney General's Office and the National Roads Authority (NRA) to finalise the draft of the Statutory Instrument and I expect to sign this Instrument very shortly.