Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
107. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the status of discussions or plans that have taken place further to his meeting with this Deputy on 7 December 2021 regarding a key strategic road infrastructure project for Drogheda; and his views on the matter. [11802/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated previously, Louth County Council is the statutory planning and road authority in its functional area. In this context the first section of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) which is under consideration is aimed at facilitating housing development and contacts since the meeting with the Deputy in December indicate that the Council is engaging with developers with a view to advancing this element of the scheme. My Department has no role in that process.
I should again mention, as I said to the Deputy at our meeting, that there is a limited budget available for projects under the Regional and Local Road Strategic Grant Programme and that the implementation of a number of the larger NDP schemes which are now at construction stage will absorb much of the funding available in the period to 2025. It should also be noted that, under the Public Spending Code, a Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) is required for all projects which are estimated to cost in excess of €10 million. To date no SAR report has been received by my Department for this proposed project.
