Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has the authority to instruct Wexford County Council to lift planning restrictions along the preferred route for the Oilgate - Rosslare motorway in view of the fact that the restrictions prevent residents from developing and selling properties even though the project has been postponed indefinitely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33442/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. I have no function in relation to the planning process and, as previously indicated, it is a matter for the local authority in its capacity as the planning authority to assess how best to balance planning needs and the protection of route corridors for future road upgrades.