Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 516: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is potentially an amount of money available through INTERREG that would allow for the Narrow Water bridge project to move forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39689/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had any contact with INTERREG on the matter of the Narrow Water bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39690/11]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is prepared to release a small amount of money that would be necessary to facilitate the Narrow Water bridge project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39691/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 to 518, inclusive, together.

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants where available .

As the Deputy is aware, this Government has had to scale back capital spending considerably in recent times. This will have a particular impact on the number of larger projects, such as Narrow Water Bridge, which can be undertaken.

The Narrow Water Bridge project is estimated to cost approximately €19 million. In recent months, Louth County Council has expressed a willingness to complete the next stage of the planning process from its own resources. I have no objection to this and my permission is not required.

I also understand that Louth County Council hopes to secure INTERREG funding for the project. To do so, they will need to secure a commitment from the Northern Ireland authorities to fund in the order of 75% of the project from their resources (some of which could be recouped through INTERREG). To date this commitment has not been forthcoming.