Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Transport the position regarding the upgrade of the road from Dundalk to Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35925/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a matter for the local authority, to be financed from its own resources, supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be financed from these grants is also a matter for the local authority.

In 2008, I allocated a grant of €200,000 to Cavan County Council for the East/West Link Road from Dundalk to Sligo under the Strategic Non-National Roads grant category. This stream of grants was introduced in 2006 to cater for major schemes that make a significant contribution towards the National Spatial Strategy.

Cavan County Council is procuring engineering consultants to prepare a feasibility report for the East/West Link Road. Following the satisfactory outcome of this study the consultants will carry out the preliminary design of the regional and local road section of the road. These stages are expected to take 24 months.