21.—(1) (a) The Authority shall, in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Minister may specify, prepare programmes or such other documentation as may be required by him or any other Minister of the Government for the purposes of making or supporting an application to the European Communities for financial assistance (whether in the form of grants or loans) in respect of national roads.

(b) Any such programme or other documentation shall be submitted to the Minister, who following consultation with any other Minister concerned, may—

(i) approve it,

(ii) approve it with modifications,

(iii) direct that it be resubmitted to him in a modified form for approval,

(iv) refuse to approve it.

(c) An approved programme or other documentation shall not be submitted to the European Communities except by the Minister or other Minister of the Government concerned.

(2) The Authority shall, with the consent of the Minister, and in such manner as may be specified by him, assist in promoting the case for financial assistance (whether in the form of grants or loans) by the European Communities in respect of national roads.

(3) In this section “European Communities” has the meaning assigned to it by the European Communities Act, 1972.