“1200 houses are planned alongside this piece of road. That likely means another 1200 cars”
Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster TD has said the announcement this week of the planned commencement of the first stage of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) is “a welcome start”, but has cautioned that “it’s just a start, and there’s a long way to go”.
Deputy Munster was speaking after the announcement by Louth County Council of the signing of a licence by PANCR Developments Limited, which allows for the construction of Phase 1 of the PANCR project.
The project is being delivered by the Housing Infrastructure Services Company on behalf of PANCR Developments Limited and is being funded by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. Clonmel Enterprises have been appointed as the main contractor.
Deputy Munster said:
“The announcement of the signing of the licence is a welcome start, but it’s just a start. There’s a long way to go yet.
“As everyone in the Drogheda area knows, this project has been planned for over 16 years, and throughout that time successive governments have failed to fund it.
“This developer-led announcement shows us that the government has abdicated all responsibility for building this road. The government played no part in securing this funding. They continue to neglect the town.
“My concern now is that in the absence of a state-funded and state-backed project, we will be at the mercy of developers and that this could potentially lead to a piecemeal approach to the building of the project.
“We can’t have any further delays. The second phase of the project must immediately follow the first.
“The Port Access Route was planned to take traffic out of the town. This first phase of the project will not deal with the town’s congestion.
“1200 houses are planned alongside this piece of road. That likely means another 1200 cars.
“This government needs to step up to the mark and fund the project in its entirety in order for Drogheda town to get to get the full benefit of it.
“This road will have enormous benefits for the town when it is completed. Less congestion, encourage more investment and further development. Drogheda needs this, after years of neglect by successive governments.
“This government has to finally step up to the mark and commit to funding the remainder of PANCR in its entirety, as a matter of priority.”
