Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will appoint a senior executive engineer from Donegal County Council to sit on the technical group dealing with the route selection between Derry and Aughnacloy which has recently been allocated €580 million by the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16202/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The management and oversight arrangements for the A5 Derry — Aughnacloy road project have been agreed in the North-South Ministerial Council and are now operational. The Technical Group is comprised of senior expert officials from the National Roads Authority and Road Services Northern Ireland. It is not my intention to seek any expansion in the membership of the Group.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Transport the average cost to the State per kilometre of road resurfacing works on regional routes to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16397/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Transport the average cost to the State per kilometre of road resurfacing works on county routes to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16398/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.

Surface dressing operations on regional and local roads are undertaken mid year (generally during the May to August period) when weather conditions permit. An estimate of the cost per kilometre of the surface dressing operations to be funded under the 2008 State funded Restoration Maintenance Programme is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Michael Fitzpatrick (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Kildare County Council plans to cul-de-sac Carbury Village, County Kildare against the wishes of all the residents and the majority of the public representatives; and if he will intervene to ensure the village remains open to light traffic in the interest of health and safety and the prosperity and enjoyment of the village. [16414/08]

Michael Fitzpatrick (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that Kildare County Council will be in a position to spend its 2008 allocation of €2.5 million on upgrading the Johnstownbridge/Edenderry road in 2008; if the issues with roadside land holders have been resolved in relation to the land purchase and fencing; and if not the reason for the delay in the process. [16415/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

The upgrade of the Edenderry to Enfield road is being undertaken by Kildare County Council with grant assistance provided by my Department. The design of the route is primarily a matter for the local authority.

Before works of this nature may proceed, the local authority is obliged to comply with requirements of planning legislation. I understand that those requirements, which include extensive public consultation, were complied with in respect of this project and that the works were approved by the elected members of Kildare County Council in December 2006. My Department has no function in that process.

The acquisition of land for the project is also a matter for the local authority. Expenditure by Kildare County Council on foot of the 2008 road grant allocation of €2.5 million will be influenced by progress by the council in respect of acquisition of land and the appointment of a contractor.