asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 January (WA 165) concerning a bypass around Enniskillen, when they estimate the bypass will be built. [HL1486]

The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this Question.

Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated January 2007.

You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 January 2007 (WA 165) concerning a bypass around Enniskillen, when they estimate the bypass will be built. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.

As I advised in my reply to Parliamentary Question HL1226, the proposal for a bypass to the south of Enniskillen was included in the consultation document Expanding the Strategic Road Improvement Programme. While responses to the consultation supported the inclusion of the bypass, analysis of the feedback is still ongoing and, as such, it is not yet possible to confirm whether it will be included in the resulting expanded programme.

I can, however, advise that, typically, it can take at least six years to progress a scheme from its initial inclusion in a programme to the start of construction. This, of course, is subject to detailed economic appraisal, clearing the relevant statutory procedures and the availability of funds through the normal budgetary processes.