Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to Deputy Conlan first. He discussed the neglect of the road network, the need for that to be addressed to facilitate economic development in that region and the need for local authorities and both Governments to focus on this. I fully accept the Deputy's point regarding the need for investment in that part of our road network, the maintenance of what is there and the delivery of new projects, to which he has referred. He will understand that my challenge at the moment is that I still have a constrained amount of money. I am looking to allocate that in the best way possible. If we continue to see improvement in our economy, particularly, I hope, in the context of the Government's next capital plan, my objective is to make more progress than we have been able to in the recent past in parts of our country with specific needs in terms of road infrastructure. Deputy Conlan asked me specifically about the N2, particularly in relation to Monaghan and Emyvale. I referred to this in my opening contribution, but to be more specific, the NRA has very recently confirmed funding, as I am sure the Deputy is aware - I just want to ensure it is on the record - of €2.274 million for interim safety works in that area, many of which are concentrated in the Monaghan to Emyvale area. That has happened. I am not in a position to confirm that we can fund any further projects now due to the constraints I have, but I am aware of the needs to which the Deputy is referring and the particular needs of the Border counties.

On Mr. Doherty's comments, I am aware of the possibility of a public inquiry taking place upon completion of the current phase. He asked specifically about the N14 and N15. My objective is that they would happen concurrently if the A5 progresses in the way that is proposed. The Deputy also asked about the N2. There are no plans for much of the work on this to take place, beyond what I have referred to, due to capital constraints. On the north-west initiative and the reference to the A5 in the most recent agreement, I am aware of that. To answer that along with Deputy Kitt's question about how that has progressed, to date, I have attended one sectoral committee meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, but the transport project that was discussed most was the A5. To date, that has taken the form of the council noting its progress and where it stands in relation to the process to which Mr. Doherty referred. That is how it has been dealt with in the past. I expect it will receive a further update given what has happened since we last met several months ago.

On the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in those meetings, the Government is represented by me at the sectoral committees, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, is present at the broader committee meetings and contributes to them.

Deputy Kitt asked me about the contact from Louth County Council regarding the Narrow Water Bridge project.

I met with Louth County Council officials on that a number of months ago and wrote to the committee on the status of the project thereafter. The committee wrote to me, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach and we wrote back to say it was a matter for Louth County Council to progress, that it needs to be subject to full economic appraisal and that funding arrangements for the scheme would have to be identified. To date, I have not received further contact from Louth County Council on the points.