Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Some months ago I welcomed the Narrow Water bridge initiative in my parish. I was saddened to hear yesterday that this project has been put on hold. Contract prices received varied significantly from €26.5 million plus VAT to €40 million plus VAT, almost twice the estimated costs which were in the region of €23 million or €24 million. It beggars belief that those who estimated what it would cost then discovered that contractors were widely different in their estimates. I appeal to both the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive in this regard. There is a shortfall of €15 million. I would hate to see this project lost to the north east, Louth County Council and Newry and Mourne council. Where will the €17.4 million funding agreed by the Special EU Programmes Body, SEUPB, go? Can contractors reduce the costs? We must examine that and appeal to both the Government and the Executive to come up with the shortfall. As I pointed out previously, the economic and tourism benefits to the Carlingford-Cooley peninsula and the Newry and Mourne areas will be lost and I would hate to see that happen. I ask the Leader to raise that issue with the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and perhaps with his counterpart in Northern Ireland.