Government must clarify if Council can appeal Northern Cross Route decision
Imelda Munster has asked Tánaiste Leo Varadkar for clarity as to whether or not Louth County Council can appeal the refusal of funding for the Port Access Northern Cross Route. She says that Minister Darragh O’Brien has been ‘dodging and delaying’ on this matter for too long.
The Sinn Féin TD has asked the Tánaiste to clarify whether there is an appeals process for unsuccessful applicants under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), citing the case of the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR).
Deputy Munster raised the matter with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, saying that she has yet to receive a response to a letter sent almost six weeks ago to Minister Darragh O’Brien seeking clarity.
“I asked Minister O’Brien a very simple question – is there an appeals process under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund?” Deputy Munster said, adding: “We know that there is money left in the fund.
“Louth County Council was unsuccessful in its application for funding under the URDF. If there was an appeals process it would be the fastest and most efficient way to apply for funding in order to get the project up and running.
“If there is an appeals process Louth County Council need to know about it in order to prepare a revised application.
“Minister O’Brien has been dodging and delaying on this matter for too long. This is why I raised the matter with the Tánaiste, in the hope that it will speed up the process of moving on to the next step for accessing funding for this project.”
“We all know how important this road is, and how it has been delayed repeatedly by successive governments.
“It’s time this government took this road seriously and supported Louth County Council in their efforts to get funding approved.”
