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

61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there has been liaison between Louth County Council and his Department regarding the northern cross route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22122/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

​As I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to PQ 2743/17 of 24 January 2017 regarding the same road scheme, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Co. Louth is the statutory responsibility of Louth County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.  My Department has no grant application on hand in relation to the proposed Drogheda Northern Cross Port Access road and there has been no engagement between my Department and Louth County Council in relation to such a scheme. Given the cutbacks in State funding for regional and local roads since the financial crisis, it has been necessary to curtail the grant programme for major new regional and local road schemes and for major realignment schemes in order to protect the funding available for the maintenance of the existing network. The bulk of the funding allocated under the Capital Plan published in 2015 is, therefore, earmarked for the maintenance and renewal of the road network with some limited investment in the new projects. 

The Drogheda Port Access Northern Cross Route is not provided for in the Capital Plan.