Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is concerned about the lack of progress on the Narrow Water Bridge; if he has discussed this matter with Prime Minister Cameron or President Barroso; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23844/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Firstly I would like to explain that 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.  Louth County Council and its project partners submitted the Narrow Water Bridge project for Interreg IVA funding and the project was approved for €17.4m in funding by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) on the basis that both my Department and the relevant Northern Ireland Authorities would provide financial support. My Department subsequently approved an up-front contribution of €3.9 million.

This project has been discussed at a number of fora with the relevant Northern Ireland Ministers which is the appropriate approach to take. The Northern Minister for Finance and Personnel has recently confirmed financial support for the project subject to specified conditions. The statutory process relating to the approval of a Bridge Order is still underway in the Northern Ireland - the consultation period for the draft Order ended on 4 June. In the meantime I understand that tenders for construction of the bridge have been received by Louth County Council and will now be evaluated by the Council.

I have never met Prime Minister Cameron and have only briefly met President Barroso, as part of a group of Ministers. I have discussed the matter with the Northern Irish Executive's First Minister and Deputy First Minister. In April of this year, Minister Kennedy, Minister Attwood and I issued a Joint Communiqué supporting the project.