No mention of Drogheda apart from DART extension in National Development Plan
Local TD Ged Nash has said that it comes as no surprise to him that the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR), which is so vital to Drogheda’s future development, is not mentioned in the Government’s €165 billion National Development Plan published today.
Labour’s national Finance and Public Spending spokesperson said; “Forty four ‘national’ roads projects are mentioned in the multibillion euro plan – with no reference at all to the PANCR, even as a strategic ambition for Ireland’s largest town.
“In fact, the only references to Drogheda in the government’s flagship investment initiative are to the aspirational Dart Plus project where no costings or timelines are given, and to the Lourdes Hospital extension which was covered off between 2018 and 2021.
“Government party representatives will point to page 73 of the plan which states that local authorities can continue to make the case for investment projects not included in the plan. This will be small comfort to those of us who are ambitious for Drogheda and are anxious to see our area meet its full potential.
“However, it is clear to me from a reply from the Minister for Transport last week that Louth County Council has a mountain to climb to attract funding for this crucial project for housing and town centre regeneration in Drogheda.
“The Minister told me last week that just one meeting has taken place between this year between his department and the Council and that no business case has been made for funding to the Department of Public Expenditure.
“The plan will make for hugely disappointing reading for the people of the area. The NDP along with the National Planning Framework is the ultimate guiding document for public investment for the next ten years.
“Any objective reading of the plan says to me that Drogheda will not be enabled to be the city it can be during the lifetime of this plan. It is totally free of ambition for Ireland’s largest town.”
