asked the Minister for the Environment when the next stage of the Tallaght by-pass, County Dublin will be approved.

I assume the Deputy is referring to the proposed improvement of the N81 from the Cheeverstown Road junction end of the Tallaght by-pass westwards to a point adjacent to the Mount Seskin Road junction. Outline proposals for this scheme, which have been submitted to my Department by Dublin County Council, are currently under examination.

I hope to be in a position to give my decision on the scheme in the near future. To date, road grant commitments totalling £500,000 have been notified to the council for the scheme.