Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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609. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedure for selection of the route for the new N6 Galway transport project; the legislation under which power has been given to the executive to make the decision, without any vote by the elected representatives of Galway City Council and Galway County Council in the route selection process; the persons who will be making the decision on the preferred route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8987/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, 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 road authorities concerned. Under section 17 of the Roads Act 1993 the NRA has overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction of national roads. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended).

Under section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended), the construction of all national roads is the responsibility of road authorities.

It should be noted that the provision of major road projects must be in accordance with local authority Development Plans which are determined by the local Elected Members. Planning approvals for major road projects are decided by An Bord Pleanála and ultimately in some case by Court decisions.