Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has made a decision to progress the Leinster Outer Orbital route proposal; if he is currently considering any new public private partnership arrangements for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31107/10]

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.

Neither Transport 21 nor the National Development Plan provides any funding for a Leinster Outer 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.

The Deputy will also be aware that, under the Renewed Programme for Government, a review of the national road programme is underway at present with completion of the review expected by late summer. In addition to the above, progress on projects such as the Leinster Outer Orbital Route will only be possible as and when resources become available.