Vol. 477 No. 5
22 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment his views on the access and transport available to Dublin Port; his views on the proposals for the port tunnel; his views on whether people's health and well-being should take precedence over economic gain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6073/97]
29 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment the number of objections and submissions he has received with regard to the environmental impact statement on the proposed Dublin Port tunnel; if he will give details of such submissions; if he will give details of the strong objections, if any, he has received, particularly in relation to the location of northern portals in Santry, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17913/96]
140 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment his understanding of the views of residents along the proposed routes of the Dublin Port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4932/97]
141 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment the options, if any, he has considered for access to Dublin Port other than the proposed six routes of the port tunnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4933/97]
173 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the anxiety of a high number of people in northside Dublin living along the route of the proposed Dublin Port tunnel; his views on the suggestion that the people's health and well-being should take precedence over any development which may require sanction either by his Department or an authority under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9672/97]
174 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment his views on the need for a Dublin Port access route; the issues which warrant consideration in the evaluation of the most appropriate route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/96]
I proposed to take Questions Nos. 22, 29, 140, 141, 173 and 174 together.
The primary purpose of the proposed port access route is to provide a direct link from the C-ring motorway to Dublin Port to cater for existing and anticipated growth in port traffic. A number of options for access to Dublin Port were examined as part of the Dublin Transportation Initiative, including an eastern bypass, a northern port access route, an east-west tunnel and a Royal Canal truckway. The DTI report recommended the development of a northern port access route.
The proposed route is intended to be a national primary road. The development of proposals for the route is, accordingly, a matter for Dublin Corporation, as road authority for the area, acting under the general supervision of the National Roads Authority which has overall responsibility for the planning, design, construction and financing of national roads.
