Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster says that the lack of urgency from all sides in securing funding for the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) is a matter of “enormous concern.”
Deputy Munster made her comments after she was told by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan that Louth County Council have yet to submit an application for a grant under the strategic road grant scheme.
“This latest delay in securing funding for the Port Access Northern Cross Route is extremely frustrating” Deputy Munster said.
“I raised this with the Department of Transport at the Public Accounts Committee recently and I was told that the strategic grant fund would be an option for this road.
“I contacted Louth County Council at the time to ensure that they were aware of this funding stream, but when I contacted them again I was informed that they have yet to apply for a grant, that work in this regard is ongoing but that it is a long process.
“We have been waiting for around 15 years for this road. It’s farcical that we remain in a situation where there is no clear funding route for the road, and there is no prospect of securing any funding for the foreseeable future.
“Louth County Council have made several grant applications under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund which were unsuccessful.
“The lack of urgency on this issue from all sides is of serious concern to me.
“We needed this road 15 years ago. We need it now more than ever.
“Everybody knows that this road was an integral part of the Northern Environs plan as a vital piece of infrastructure to sustain the development of over 5,000 houses and to alleviate traffic coming into the town.
“We need urgency from the Department of Transport and from Louth County Council on this. It’s not fair on the people of Drogheda.”
