asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to redesignate some roads in Cork city as national primary routes.

Dublin South-East): I have no such proposal at present.

Cork Corporation made an application to the Department to have the road from Cork city to the airport and from Cork city to Ringaskiddy terminal to be classified as a national primary route. Will the Minister give a decision on this application shortly?

(Dublin South-East): No.

Why will there not be a decision shortly?

(Dublin South-East): As I stated in my reply, there is no such proposal at the moment. I am giving no reason for that.

I am not asking that question. Will the Minister give a decision? There is an application in his Department.

(Dublin South-East): I said no.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister not consider that a road leading from Cork city to the airport which serves a considerable part of the country would merit being treated as a national primary road?

(Dublin South-East): I take the point. As the Deputy is aware, the national roads network is now firmly established. My answer still stands in that context. There is no proposal at the moment to make any reclassification.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Do I gather that once the national network is classified it becomes rigid for all time and cannot be reconsidered in any way? The supplementary question merely asked the Minister to reconsider the classification of roads with particular reference to this airport road which, of any road, should merit the classification of a national primary road.

(Dublin South-East): I understand the question before me. The answer I have given explains the position in relation to the Department. That is all I have to say on the matter.

It is a ridiculous situation ——

The Deputy must ask a question, not make a statement.