Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
228. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the East-West Link which includes a risk-based analysis for the east-west route between Dundalk and Cavan and the requirement for the necessary funding to made available for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57386/23]
View answerMy department has been working with Cavan and Louth County Councils in relation to funding projects associated with the proposed upgraded East West Link Road. As the Deputy is aware the proposed scheme would run on regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and national routes from Cavan to Sligo.
Going back some time there was a proposal for a substantial upgrade of the regional road part of the route; my department provided over €2 million to Cavan County Council, acting as lead authority with Monaghan and Louth County Councils, to progress the regional road element of the project to preliminary design stage.
However, more recent appraisal work has indicated a very substantial cost if the road scheme was fully implemented. As such, my department engaged Cavan County Council to carry out a risk-based analysis for the route between Dundalk and Cavan. This analysis explored the possibility of a series of interventions which could be implemented over time, and which could improve safety, journey times, and bring consistency to the travel speed along the route. From this risk analysis individual local authorities examined if, and how, projects identified could be brought forward, while taking into account their own priorities and available resources.
Following this process, my department allocated funding to both Cavan and Louth County Councils to carry out initial assessments of two possible schemes. Subsequently, both Louth and Cavan County Councils submitted Strategic Assessment Reports for these two schemes. These submissions have been reviewed and, subject to funding availability are expected to proceed to the next phase.
