*To ask the Minister for Transport if he has considered the request by Monaghan County Council to have a road (details supplied) reclassified to regional road status; his views on whether the county council's landfill and materials recovery facility is an asset to not only County Monaghan but also other counties and that the road is in urgent need of being reclassified; and if he will make a statement on the matter - Seymour Crawford.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 7th December, 2004.
(LP03411, Cremartin to Castleblayney)
Ref No: 32294/04
Answered by the Minister for Transport (Martin Cullen)
Reply
A comprehensive review of the national and regional road system was concluded in 1994 as set out in Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 209 of 1994: Roads Act, 1993 (Declaration of National Roads) Order, 1994 and S.I. 400 of 1994: Roads Act, 1993 (Declaration of Regional Roads) Order, 1994. This review was carried out in consultation with local authorities and took account of representations received from a wide range of local interests.
The update of these Statutory Instruments currently underway is designed to take account of road improvements and route changes since 1994. Nevertheless, the classification of the Cremartin/Castleblayney road, inter alia, will be reviewed in the update. It is anticipated that the update will be concluded at the end of this year.
Issues raised by the Deputy relating to the County Council's landfill and materials recovery facility are a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
