Mr. Liam Hannaway:

I will pick up from the publication of the Fresh Start agreement. On 17 November 2015, A Fresh Start: The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan was published in the North of Ireland.

Both councils welcomed the commitment to the Narrow Water bridge within the plan. I will quote from the Fresh Start agreement.

The Irish Government remains committed to the concept of the Narrow Water Bridge project which would provide a valuable north south link between counties Down and Louth with the potential to provide jobs and a significant boost to tourism in the area.

It goes on to say:

The Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government agree to undertake a review of the project with a view to identifying options for its future development which will be considered by the North South Ministerial Council in June 2016.

That was considered in June 2016 and officials were appointed by both Governments to take on board the views of elected members within both jurisdictions and stakeholders from both council areas regarding the options. A report was presented to the North-South Ministerial Council on Friday, 18 November 2016, at which point it was agreed to continue further developments.

Since then, there have also been discussions regarding the southern relief road. At the time, the roads service division of Transport Northern Ireland, Transport NI, included the Newry southern relief road as part of its strategic programme of work. It began to devise options, some of which included the Narrow Water bridge scheme. The current Banbridge, Newry and Mourne area plan includes a proposal for a Newry southern bypass as a long-term strategic road improvement to link from the A1 Dublin Road, a key strategic route, to the A2 Warrenpoint Road, a trunk road leading to Warrenpoint Port. Transport NI’s consultation document on proposals to expand the regional strategic transport network transport plan for 2015 includes the Newry southern relief road as a scheme that performed well in assessment but that was not affordable within ISNI funding envisaged to 2015.

Representations made by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade resulted in the department’s agreement to undertake a local transport study of the southern side of Newry to assess the impact of the suggested southern relief road, the possible lines of a new link from the A2 Warrenpoint Road to the A1 Dublin Road at or in the vicinity of Cloghogue roundabout and also what alternative options are available to provide relief to traffic in the area.

The Newry southern relief road proposal has been progressed into Transport NI’s forward planning schedule. Transport NI has appointed AECOM as consultants and work has commenced on the stage 1 preliminary options scheme assessment. This work will involve updating key project information and will require traffic and environmental surveys to be undertaken. AECOM have identified five options for consideration, two of the options are located in close proximity to the site of the Narrow Water bridge proposal and involve the construction of a vehicular bridge across the Clanrye River. I will hand over to Ms Martin to conclude.