Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will grant aid the proposals from Louth County Council to construct the Drogheda port access route which is part of the Drogheda Northern Environs Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35403/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and improvement of non-national roads in County Louth is a matter for Louth County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department.

In March 2005, Louth County Council submitted an outline proposal to my Department in relation to a Drogheda Northern Cross Port Access Route. That document identified a number of possible sources of funding but provided no details. The Council was asked in May 2005 to submit an indicative breakdown of the likely funding from the different sources and that information is awaited in my Department.

In July 2006, my Department sought applications from road authorities for funding under the 2007 EU Co-Financed Specific Improvements Grant Scheme. The initial selection of projects to be submitted for consideration for funding under this scheme is a matter for road authorities. Louth County Council submitted a number of applications but these did not include an application for funding for the Drogheda Northern Cross Port Access Route.