To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which he is updated by the NRA on the progress being made on the road building programme under the NDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Olivia Mitchell. 
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 7th December, 2004.
Ref No: 32435/04

Answered by the Minister for Transport (Martin Cullen)

Reply

My Department is in regular contact with the National Roads Authority (NRA) in relation to the national roads programme. The NRA report to my Department regularly on the implementation of the programme including on a quarterly basis in relation to the cost of major projects in construction. Progress on the implementation of the national road programme in the context of the National Development Plan is also reported by the NRA to the Monitoring Committee of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme, which is chaired by my Department. The Committee meets at least twice a year. Progress reports to the Monitoring Committee are available on my Department's website

The arrangements for reporting on implementation of the national roads programme are currently being adapted to take into account the reporting requirements arising in the context of the Capital Investment Framework.