Roads Act, 1993

Preparation of plans by the Authority.

18.—(1) (a) The Authority shall, at least once every five years, and having regard to any guidelines given by the Minister under section 41 (3) and having obtained the views of local authorities, prepare a draft plan for the construction and maintenance of national roads.

(b) The Authority shall have regard to the need for efficiency, economy and quality in the construction and maintenance of national roads and shall include an independent assessment thereof in any draft plan prepared by it under this subsection.

(2) (a) The Authority shall submit a draft plan prepared under subsection (1) to the Minister for his approval.

(b) When submitting a draft plan to the Minister the Authority shall provide information on all objections and representations received under subsection (3) and not withdrawn.

(c) The Minister may approve a draft plan, approve it with modifications, instruct that it be resubmitted to him in a modified form for approval or refuse to approve it.

(3) Before submitting a draft plan to the Minister, the Authority shall—

(a) publish in one or more newspapers a notice—

(i) stating that a draft plan has been prepared and that it is proposed to submit it to the Minister for his approval,

(ii) indicating the times at which, the period (which shall be not less than one month) during which and the place where a copy of the draft plan may be inspected,

(iii) indicating where a copy of the draft plan may be obtained and specifying the fee (if any) for such copy (which shall be not more than the reasonable cost of making such copy),

(iv) stating that objections or representations may be made in writing to the Authority in relation to the draft plan before a specified date (which shall be not less than two weeks after the end of the period for inspection);

(b) send a copy of the draft plan to each road authority assigned responsibility for national roads under section 13 and serve a notice on each such authority stating—

(i) that a draft plan has been prepared and that it is proposed to submit it to the Minister for his approval, and

(ii) that objections or representations may be made in writing to the Authority in relation to the draft plan before a specified date (which shall be not less than two weeks after the end of the period for inspection referred to in paragraph (a));

(c) consider any objections or representations made to it under this subsection and not withdrawn and make such amendments or modifications (if any) to the draft plan as it considers appropriate.

(4) The making of objections or representations under subsection (3) (b) shall be a reserved function.

(5) The Authority shall annually review the implementation of a plan approved under subsection (2) and submit a report on such review to the Minister.

(6) In the performance of its functions, the Authority shall comply as far as possible with any plan approved under subsection (2).