asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give an assurance that urban motorways will not be constructed within the Dublin city area.

I presume the Deputy is referring to part of the motorway system recommended in the Dublin Transportation Study. The Dublin City and County Manager was asked by my predecessor to review these recommendations. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the subject until the road authority have completed their review.

Do I understand that the Minister for the Environment is not in a position to comment on urban motorways? Is that what he is saying?

I am saying that the Dublin City and County Manager was asked by my predecessor to review the previous recommendations made by them. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on the subject until the road authority have completed their review.

I am sorry if I do not understand the Minister fully. Is he saying that he is tied by a request of the previous office-holder and that he, the Minister for the Environment, has no opinion on the question of urban motorways?

Let me repeat that I am awaiting the further report from the Dublin City and County Manager. It does not necessarily mean that I have no ideas of my own with regard to urban motorways or road structure.

That is not what is being asked.

I am answering the Deputy's question.

Then there is in effect no answer to my Question No.6. The Minister is not in a position to give an assurance to the millions in the Dublin region that no urban motorway will be constructed.

I will give no such assurance.

Some environment.

7.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he is opposed to urban motorways within the established centres of cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

It is the responsibility of each road authority to decide the type of road best suited to its needs. I will consider on its merits any proposal, including a proposal for a motorway, submitted by a road authority.

Am I to take it that the Minister will agree with motorways running through established urban centres?

I am prepared to take the opinions of local authorities and such groups as the Deputy refers to into consideration. I am doing this and even tomorrow I will be meeting some of these groups.

Am I right in thinking that the Minister does not intend to do anything and that he has no ideas of his own as to what to do in this area until he hears from other organisations and bodies?

I have ideas of my own.

Would it be appropriate to ask to hear some of these?

No, it would not be appropriate. I am prepared to discuss them with all the people concerned first.

We would like to know the Minister's ideas about them. They are a matter of great concern.

The Deputy will know them in due course but first of all I am going to discuss them with——

Does the Minister consider it appropriate to discuss the question of urban motorways in the columns of some of the daily papers weeks ago while he refuses to give the slightest scintilla of information to elected representatives in this House?

I have commented on the questions that were posed to me. I said I had an open mind on the matter.

The Minister's mind apparently is very open on everything.