Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself that the works carried out on Portumna Bridge over the River Shannon are adequate for the volume of traffic using this bridge in view of reports prior to these works being carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2397/10]

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 construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national road and bridge projects , including Portumna Bridge, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Transport the status that will be assigned to the old N6 route from Ballinasloe to Galway following the opening of the new M6; if it is his responsibility to alter its designation, or that of the local authority; the consequences of such change if it occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2403/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Section 10 of the Roads Act 1993 as amended by Roads Act to 2007 provides for the classification of national, regional and local roads. In accordance with the section 10 (1)(e) of the Roads Act 1993 (as inserted by section 11 of the Roads Act 2007), the section of an existing national road which remains following the construction of a by-pass or a realignment is deemed to be a local road.

I have statutory responsibility for the classification of public roads. Changes in the classification status of a local road to a national or regional road are made by Ministerial Order, either on my initiative or on consideration of a request from the relevant road authority. I have received no such request in relation to the N6 route from Ballinasloe to Galway. The need to update the classification of roads generally is kept under ongoing review in my Department.