Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the progress made on plans to build a bridge linking North County Louth and South County Down at Narrow Water; the steps he has taken to progress this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42379/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.   As you are aware, this Government has had to scale back capital spending considerably in recent times. This will impact significantly on the scope for new development projects.  The Narrow Water Bridge project is estimated to cost approximately €19 million.   I understand that Louth County Council submitted the project's CPO and EIS to An Bord Pleanála on 16th January 2012, that an oral hearing was held in June of this year and that Louth County Council expects a decision shortly.

I also understand that Louth County Council has applied for INTERREG IVA funding for the project.  In advance of this application, I indicated to Louth County Council that funding under the INTERREG IVA programme would require a commitment from the Northern Ireland authorities to fund in excess of 75% of the up front cost of the project.  I am not aware if Louth County Council has obtained this commitment.  I did indicate that if the Northern Ireland authorities were willing to support the project and if an INTERREG IVA application were successful then I would be prepared to try to find a net Exchequer contribution of the order of €1.5m.