Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
429. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding requested by Louth County Council in 2018 to support the development of the northern port access route in Drogheda, County Louth; the criteria laid down to qualify for such capital funding; the reason the funding application from Louth County Council was unsuccessful; his plan to fund the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14768/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in County 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.
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 Project Ireland 2040 is, therefore, earmarked for the maintenance and renewal of the road network with some limited investment in the new projects.
