Local TD Ged Nash has said that funding for the Northern Port Access Route (NPAR) must be included in the government’s ten-year National Development Plan (NDP) which is scheduled to be published in September.
Labour’s Finance & Public Expenditure Spokesperson said; “Today the government approved the spending of €165 billion over the next ten years to upgrade Ireland’s social and economic infrastructure.
“The details of the plan will be launched in September. If it does not include a commitment to the NPAR we could be waiting another ten years for this critical piece of infrastructure to be built.”
He said that this wopuld be a major test of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party’s commitment to Drogheda and to sustainable development.
“Two of the key criteria laid down for the NDP are compliance with Ireland’s climate action laws and the State’s ambitions on the provision of housing.
“Two months ago, Eamon Ryan as Transport Minister stated quite clearly that town by-passes were a priority for him. He said so on the basis that by-passes allow for town centres to become living areas, for traffic to be taken off the streets in order to allow urban areas to regenerate and to breathe. In this respect, the NPAR fits the bill.
“Equally, the construction of the road will allow for the building on a phased basis of 5,000 homes which are badly needed in the area.
“I have again been in contact with the relevant departments and Ministers to make the case for the NPAR which, in my view, must be included in the National Development Plan if it is to happen.”
