A comprehensive survey of the national roads network is being undertaken to prepare for a submission to the EU seeking more investment when the current round of funding ends in 1999.
The Minister for the Environment and Local Government announced the survey yesterday at a lunch organised by the employers organisation, IBEC.
"When the survey is completed it will give us a proper picture of the infrastructural gap which will need to be filled, with EU assistance, post1999," Mr Dempsey said.