Mr. Brendan Jennings:

I am the senior engineer in roads. In reference to the east-west scheme, we have been working with a number of counties, from Sligo right across to Dundalk in Louth on the development of that project. We have focused in particular, with Monaghan and Louth county councils, on the section from Cavan to Dundalk, which goes through an area of east Cavan that is not well served with roads, as well as south Monaghan and into County Louth.

The scheme is funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and heavily resourced by Cavan County Council, as well as Monaghan and Louth county councils. We have developed it as far as the preliminary design stage but it has been halted at that stage, primarily due to funding. This is a major issue for us, particularly in east County Cavan because it is highly dependent on the regional road network and is not served by any national roads. The local road network is in a very poor state of repair and the area is neglected, as is the adjacent area in County Meath. Funding seems to be the critical element. We got the project to a certain stage but it is now suspended. Developing regional plans for Baileborough, Shercock and Cootehill and into counties Monaghan and Louth is critical to the development of the region.