There is no reason this toll bridge could not be commenced in 1985. I might ask the Minister another question: in a lot of the road building in progress around Dublin city at present it seems, to the inexpert observer, that they are being built to very palatial sorts of standards, in many cases it being difficult to visualise their being fully utilised in our lifetime. Is popular rumour true that these roads have to be built to enormously expensive standards because of EC regulations and directives?

I am glad that the Leader of the Opposition is aware of the great progress that is taking place in this city and that the work is of a very high standard. This is a requirement that is under negotiation with each local authority——

Who lays down the standards, that is the question?

——in consultation with my Department.

I do not think the Minister is aware of the exact import of my question. Is he aware that in many cases roads which are being built are four and six lane highways, that those of us who know the city fairly well cannot visualise them being fully utilised certainly this century? Are they being built to these very grandiose standards because they are EC funded and that the EC insists on these standards?

Naturally the amount of EC funds would be dependent on the quality and type of roads being built. That is one of the consideration in building roads of that nature. But I do not agree with the Deputy when he says that they are being built to an excessive standard. The road system which is being constructed is being utilised and has proved to be of a very good standard and of a very safe standard. I have not heard a complaint that we are overspending.

In all these matters——

This question is being widened beyond all reasonable bounds.

I want to ask a final, important question. This is a matter of public interest. Is the Minister aware that this is naturally a question of allocating scarce resources for the best possible results, that it seems to many people that some of these projects are being built very expensively and to standards on a scale that would not be required in the foreseeable future and that some of this money might be better spent on other roads which are in a very bad state of repair and which could do with some of the expenditure allocated to those other expensive major highways that are being built?

I cannot allow this to go on. That is appropriate to the Estimate but not now. Question No. 7.

I wish to——

They will be a credit to the capital city.

Perhaps, if we could afford it. They are beautiful engineering jobs, but can we afford them?