asked the Minister for the Environment the time schedule with regard to the provision of a by-pass to facilitate the town of Kilcock, Maynooth and Leixlip on the N4 national primary route, County Kildare, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

9.

asked the Minister for the Environment the present position with regard to the Newbridge by-pass on the N7 primary route, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.

It is envisaged that both of these major schemes will be constructed to motorway standards. It will, therefore, be necessary to hold a public local inquiry on each of the proposals under the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act, 1974. A detailed report on all relevant aspects of a motorway proposal must be available for such an inquiry. I understand from Kildare County Council that they expect that the detailed documentation for the Newbridge by-pass will be completed before the middle of 1985 and that the documentation for the Leixlip-Kilcock by-pass will be available by the end of 1985. As soon as the documentation on each of the schemes is received in my Department, there will be no undue delay in making arrangements for the holding of an inquiry in each case. In the meantime the local authority is proceeding with the design of these schemes.

As indicated in the recent national plan, I intend to announce shortly details of a number of major road improvement schemes which are likely to commence during the period 1985 to 1987.

In view of the obvious necessity to provide a northern by-pass as early as possible, would the Minister be prepared to approve the implementation of both these proposals simultaneously? There is a need to provide both as quickly as possible.

We have to wait until the public inquiries are held before we can make any such decision. It would be inappropriate to say anything further at this stage.

Would the Minister not agree that this lack of co-ordination is most unfortunate? The expertise which was available for the Naas by-pass could have been used immediately for either of the projects mentioned by Deputy Durkan. Is it not unfortunate that the forward planning was left in abeyance and that this was not ready to go ahead as soon as the other job had been completed?

As soon as we get the detailed information from Kildare County Council there will be no undue delay within the Department regarding the inquiry.

Would the Minister view with favour a proposal to have these bypasses undertaken by private enterprise, as was done in the case of the new Dublin bridge? Would he consider these projects as being suitable for private entreprise?

The county council are proceeding in the normal way. There will be a number of options in the plan and the Government will be outlining where private entrepreneurs can become involved. There will be an announcement in the near future.

Can the Minister give any information regarding the traffic census which was conducted some months ago on these primary routes?

The Deputy would have to put down a specific question on that. I have not the information with me.