Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 831: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in the provision of funding by each Department for the Drogheda Northern Cross Route (details supplied); the nature of meetings held and with whom; the submissions received from Louth local authorities, Drogheda Port Company and any other body or organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1024/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's Ports Policy Statement was launched on 6 January 2005. In the chapter on integrated transport policy, the policy statement highlights the substantial role of the commercial ports as part of the overall transport network and their reliance on landside transport connectivity. In this context the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources asked the ports to co-ordinate a view on their landside access priorities.

In this context, Drogheda Port Company made a submission in April 2005 to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources concerning inter alia the Drogheda Northern Cross Route. This information was forwarded to both the Departments of Transport and Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Department of Transport forwarded this information to the National Roads Authority and in response the NRA submitted to that Department an update report regarding inter alia the Northern Cross Route. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provided the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with an update as to the status and financing in relation to inter alia the Northern Cross route. In October 2005, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources forwarded both of the update reports referred to above to Drogheda Port Company.

In addition, I understand that the Drogheda Northern Cross Route was among a number of matters discussed at a meeting between the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Drogheda Port Company in December 2005.