Good news for port route as minister vows to change criteria

Minister Eoghan Murphy has vowed to change the criteria of the Urban Regeneration Fund, paving the way for the allocation of funding for the long awaited Drogheda Port Access Route.

It was revealed last week that the appeal by Louth County Council against the government’s decision not to fund the Sienna Valley Project (PANCR) was unsuccessful.

The news garnered widespread disappointment and anger throughout the town with Drogheda Senator

Ged Nash describing the result as ‘choking Drogheda and killing the town’s potential’ while the Drogheda City Status Group said it was ‘an outrage and further evidence of official neglect of Drogheda’.

However, speaking to the Drogheda Independent this week, local TD Fergus O’Dowd said there is light at the end of the tunnel and the route should qualify for funding under the second round of Urban Regeneration Funding.

He said Minister Murphy has confirmed to him that he intends to change the criteria of the Urban

Regeneration Fund so that broader projects such as the Northern Cross Route can avail of the scheme which would have previously scored poorly under the current criteria.

‘ The original application that was submitted under the title of Sienna Valley was the first time funding for the Northern Cross Route has been applied for through any government funded scheme,’ said Deputy O’Dowd.

‘ The Sienna Valley Application received a disappointing score in Round 1 based on the pre-determined criteria set out in the Urban Regeneration Fund as it was more suited to a roads program project. The importance of the project was agreed by all parties. The Council and the Department have worked very closely on the appeal and significant progress was made but the appeal was unsuccessful again based on the aforementioned criteria. The application is a lot stronger following the completion of this process.’

The TD said he has been liaising closely with the Minister on this project and he has outlined to Deputy O’Dowd his plans to change the criteria of the Urban Regeneration Fund to allow projects such as the Drogheda Access Route to avail of the scheme.

Sinn Féin TD for Louth and East Meath Imelda Munster said the road was badly needed.

“You can’t plan for the development of thousands of houses without having the infrastructure in place, as this route is central to the Northern Environs Plan.

“Drogheda has been waiting on this road since 2006, when this plan was first initiated. This government and the last government have failed to deliver this project for Drogheda.

“I intend to raise this again this week in the Dáil.’