Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Transport the level of INTERREG IIIA funding that has been allocated to local roads in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19306/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, in conjunction with Department of Regional Development, DRD, NI, is the implementing body for priority 2.1D, roads and public transport, of the INTERREG IIIA programme. A project involving minor road improvements in the Border region has been developed by DRD NI, in consultation with Border local authorities and facilitated by the Irish central border area network, ICBAN. I understand Monaghan County Council has been allocated €200,000 under this project. Details of the individual schemes involved are a matter for Monaghan County Council.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on prioritising the development of an east-west link from Dundalk to Sligo with a view to enhancing the economic prospects for a considerable area along this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19342/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authorities concerned. I understand from the NRA that the overall east-west link strategy is being advanced through a number of new schemes and pavement improvement works. The NRA has allocated €750,000 to Cavan County Council in 2005 to advance planning and design work on the proposed N3 Belturbet bypass project, in respect of which the compulsory purchase order, CPO, and environmental impact statement, EIS, are expected to be published this year. The NRA has also allocated over €1 million in 2005 to fund improvement works at various locations along the N16 Sligo to Enniskillen section of the route. These allocations include provisions of €650,000 for road pavement improvement and realignment works east of Manorhamilton to Glenfarne section of the route.

While the section of this route from Dundalk to Cavan is not a national road, the NRA has indicated that it will continue to keep the situation under review on an ongoing basis having regard to the funding available for, and other priorities on, the national roads programme.