Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has plans to review the East West corridor route from Dundalk and Sligo;if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the current proposed route via Carrickmacross offers no access to the M1 motorway at Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13432/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This is principally a matter for the relevant local authorities. The section from Dundalk to Cavan is at preliminary design stage. Proposals to deliver an upgraded route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, involve linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. Essentially the route involves upgrade/realignment works on the regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and on national routes from Cavan to Sligo.

The National Roads Authority procured Consultants to carry out a ‘Strategic Study of the development of an East West Link Road’ and this Consultants' report was published in 2001. Cavan County Council, as lead Authority for the local authorities initiated work in 2009 to confirm or amend the recommendations in the 2001 report and to progress part of the scheme to preliminary design stage.  Roughan & O’Donovan Aecom were appointed as consultants to carry out a feasibility study on the overall route and to initiate the preliminary design of the Dundalk to Cavan section of this project.  No further work is planned once this phase is completed.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the local safety concerns at the newly constructed scheme on the N53 Dundalk to Castleblayney from Newtownbalregan to Phillipstown, including the absence of turning lanes and adequate junction signage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13433/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.