asked the Minister for the Environment the number of organisations, both private and professional, which have contacted him in writing expressing a positive interest in participating in the provision of toll roads; and in respect of such communications, (1) the number of organisations both private and professional; (2) the number of specific projects identified; and (3) the approximate volume of capital which was indicated as being available for participation in such toll road schemes.

As I have already intimated in the course of the debate in the House on the Local Government (Toll Roads) Bill, 1978, there have been a number of expressions of interest in the concept of participating in the provision of improved road facilities on a toll basis and I do not propose to disclose details of these at this stage.

I am aware that a number of road authorities also have been approached about particular projects in their areas.

I would repeat that the Government welcome the response from the private sector as to the prospects of capital being invested in suitable toll projects which will help to supplement the amounts being provided in the public capital programme for road and bridge improvements.

I listened to the senior Minister's comments on Second Stage and Committee State debates. The reason I put down the question was to attempt to get information that was not volunteered during the debates. Is the Minister of State in a position, without breach of commercial confidentially, to answer the question, that is, the number of organisations that have specifically contacted the Minister, the number of projects listed and the approximate volume of capital? Surely that information is not confidential.

I cannot give the Deputy the names of the persons who approached my Department. The position is that a number of locations have been mentioned such as Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and the by-pass in Naas.

Can the Minister indicate the number of organisations that have expressed positive interest?

I cannot give the number but quite a number of organisations have approached the Department.

Would the Minister of State define for me and for the House what "quite a number" means? Is it one, five or ten?

At least six.

I am calling Question No. 4. The Deputy has already asked four questions.

I appreciate that but my question is explicit. If the Minister can say "at least six", why can he not say exactly what the number was?

Question No. 4.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that there were only two live inquiries about toll roads?

That is not so.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister satisfied that there are more than two inquiries from people or organisations who are ready to participate?

Yes.

How many?

I am not saying exactly how many.

With reference to the last part of my question, may I ask the Minister the approximate volume of capital which has been suggested, to which he did not reply in his initial statement? Does the Minister know the approximate volume of capital that has been mentioned in regard to the "at least six" inquiries?

It is not possible to give an approximation because it would be necessary to have estimates of the cost of the projects from the local authorities concerned.

Is it reasonable to assume that on the basis of this extraordinary paucity of information the Minister's Department have proceeded to draft legislation?

Question No. 4.

4.

asked the Minister for the Environment the European States who operate toll road schemes; and the position relating to the following matters in each country that operates such toll schemes: (1) the nature and composition of the road authority or authorities operating the toll road or toll roads; (2) the equity participation in percentage terms of the private sector in each road authority or authorities operating a toll road or toll roads schemes; (3) the average return upon capital investment in toll road schemes in those countries which operate them; (4) the percentage of revenue required to cover administrative and collection costs in each road authority or authorities operating a toll road or toll roads system; (5) the number of road authorities which operate a system of cross subsidisation for their toll road schemes; (6) the number of road authorities which do not operate any system of cross subsidisation between one toll road system and another; (7) the total number of miles or kilometres in European countries which are operated on a system of toll roads; and (8) the percentage that such figures represent of the national primary routes system in each European country.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

(a) Figures in brackets represent the number of facilities for which the authorities listed have responsibility.

(b) N.A. = not available.

(c) Road classifications differ from one country to another. These percentages are based on the aggregate length of the motorways and main national routes in each country as indicated in the 1978 edition of World Road Statistics, published by the International Road Federation.

Note: No information is available in regard to part (3) of the Question. It is understood that the revenue accruing to concessionaires derives not on only from tolls, but also from the concessionary rights in relation to roadside services e.g., fuel stations, restaurants, snack-bars.