Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has again called on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to allocate specific funding towards the advancement of planning and design of the Cootehill/Shercock/Carrickmacross/Dundalk route.
Deputy Brendan Smith stated that it is essential that substantial funding is allocated in 2019 to ensure that the proposed upgraded East/West route should be advanced as soon as possible in view of the importance of this road for substantial parts of counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.
The Transport Minister in his reply to Deputy Brendan Smith in Dáil Éireann stated –
“Proposals to deliver an upgraded East-West route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, involve linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. Essentially the route involves upgrade/realignment works on the regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and on national routes from Cavan to Sligo.
As regards the regional road aspect of the proposal which are the subject of this PQ, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of local authorities in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.
My Department provided funding to Cavan County Council (acting as lead authority with Monaghan and Louth County Councils) with over €2m in the period 2007-2014 to progress the regional road element of the project to preliminary design.
This year I gave an allocation to Cavan County Council to enable the Council to undertake a preliminary appraisal, in line with the current requirements in the Public Spending Code and the Capital Investment Framework, of the Cavan to Dundalk section of the route. The aim of this appraisal would be to assess the extent to which the scheme or elements of it can be justified in terms of appraisal and advanced for further consideration in relation to schemes for development post 2021. Preparation of the appraisal is the responsibility of the Council” concluded Minister Ross in his reply to Deputy Brendan Smith.
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For Oral Answer on : 06/11/2018
Question Number(s): 77 Question Reference(s): 45649/18
Department: Transport, Tourism and Sport
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided in 2019 towards the advancement of planning and design of a road project (details supplied) in view of the importance of this route for the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) NEED TO ADVANCE THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE EAST/WEST ROUTE – COOTEHILL/SHERCOCK/CARRICKMACROSS/DUNDALK
REPLY
Proposals to deliver an upgraded East-West route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, involve linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. Essentially the route involves upgrade/realignment works on the regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and on national routes from Cavan to Sligo.
As regards the regional road aspect of the proposal which are the subject of this PQ, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of local authorities in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.
My Department provided funding to Cavan County Council (acting as lead authority with Monaghan and Louth County Councils) with over €2m in the period 2007-2014 to progress the regional road element of the project to preliminary design.
This year I gave an allocation to Cavan County Council to enable the Council to undertake a preliminary appraisal, in line with the current requirements in the Public Spending Code and the Capital Investment Framework, of the Cavan to Dundalk section of the route. The aim of this appraisal would be to assess the extent to which the scheme or elements of it can be justified in terms of appraisal and advanced for further consideration in relation to schemes for development post 2021. Preparation of the appraisal is the responsibility of the Council.