Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the Leinster orbital route; if he has examined the feasibility study produced by the National Roads Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15867/10]

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 projects, including the Leinster Orbital Route, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

In April 2007, the NRA presented to me a completed feasibility study, which built on an earlier 2001 study. This study looked at the costs and benefits of such a route. The study finds that there is merit in constructing an Orbital Route linking Drogheda/Navan/Naas. Overall, the study concludes that the route is economically viable, technically feasible and strategically beneficial.

Neither Transport 21 nor the National Development Plan provides any funding for a Leinster Orbital Route. The Government has already made it clear that, under Transport 21, its priorities for the national roads investment programme, after the completion of the major inter-urban network in 2010, will be the Atlantic Road Corridor as well as the improvement of other key national primary routes and the targeted improvement of certain national secondary routes.

Under the Renewed Programme for Government a review of the national road programme is underway at present which is scheduled for completion by late Summer.

Irrespective of the above, progress on projects such as the Leinster Orbital Route will only be possible as and when financial resources become available.