Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2014
798. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Narrow Water Bridge will form part of the Government proposals under the new programme for cross-Border co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29865/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is no doubt aware, I have confirmed many times through Parliamentary Questions and in other fora, the Government’s disappointment that the Narrow Water Bridge tender process resulted in a doubling of the initial costs budgeted for by the project partners for the construction of the bridge. I have also frequently confirmed, most recently in a Topical Issue Debate on 2 July, that given the budgetary constraints my Department is operating under it could not take on full responsibility for the increased project cost and the significant risks involved in the project. While I was willing to consider assisting with the shortfall, this was explicitly contingent on significant contributions from other parties, including the Northern Ireland Executive. These commitments were not forthcoming within the timescale required for the INTERREG IVA programme.
SEUPB then decided to withdraw its funding for the project and to re-allocate the funding to other eligible projects in the transport sector so as to ensure that the EU funds were not lost.
As to the possibility of the Narrow Water bridge qualifying for funding under the INTERREG V programme, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is the lead Department liaising with the SEUPB regarding the INTERREG V funding process. I understand that SEUPB has now published a draft Operational Programme for public comment with a set of funding priorities.
