Dáil Question
No: 217
To ask the Minister for Transport the extent to which the various motorway projects identified in the National Development Plan are to date on time and within cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Bernard J. Durkan.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 7th December, 2004.
Ref No: 32541/04
Answered by the Minister for Transport (Martin Cullen)
Reply
The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authorities concerned
The current position in relation to the upgrading of the major inter-urban routes is set out below. A number of projects in planning are at tender stage (e.g. Waterford City By-Pass, Dundalk-Border). It is expected that the remainder of the projects in planning will either be approved by or be before an Bord Pleanála by early 2005.
While the completions in full of the ambitious national roads upgrade programme provided for in the NDP will extend beyond 2006 and the cost of the programme will be in excess of the cost as estimated in 1999/2000 good progress is nevertheless being made in the upgrade of the national roads network. Since 2000 nearly 330km of road (46 projects) have been upgraded and work is underway on over 200kms.
A range of measures have been taken by the NRA to strengthen cost estimation and control and to secure greater certainty in outturn cost. The beneficial impact of these measures is evident in the projects now being completed within budget and ahead of contracted completion dates such as Monasterevan and Cashel By Passes, Ballincollig By Pass and Ashford/Rathnew By Pass.
Further information is available in the attachment below.
