asked the Minister for Local Government when he will sanction the appointment of a consultant to examine a by-pass for Arklow, County Wicklow.

I notified Wicklow County Council on 30th April last that it would be premature to consider the appointment of consulting engineers for the design of the new bridges required for this project, pending information on the suitability of the site proposed for the river bridge.

Will the Minister state if the suitability of the bridge at Arklow is a matter for the Department to consider?

The County council would have to make the necessary representations. They would have to do a lot of the work. Eventually departmental sanction would be required, but the local authority would have to their homework first.

The question related to the appointment of an engineer to examine a by-pass for Arklow. I understood from the Minister that proposals had been made by the county council.

Information on the suitability of the site proposed for the new bridge is not available. Until the Wicklow County Council make it available there is no point in proceeding with the other matter referred to.