Monaghan Project At 'End Of Road'

Proposals to improve a 15-mile stretch along the border in Co Monaghan look unlikely to be fulfilled.

The busy stretch of single carriageway runs from the Castleblayney bypass to the NI border at Moybridge near Aughnacloy.

In 2007 the Irish government said that €34 billion (£30.5bn) was to be invested in infrastructure under the 'Transport 21' programme including the development of dual carriageway from Dublin to Londonderry and Donegal.

It was also announced that money was pledged to the Northern Ireland Executive to upgrade the northern section of the route, with construction expected to begin in 2012.

However, no timescales were given about work on remaining single-carriageway stretches south of the border, councillors said there were indications that the route near the border was part of government plans.

Recent correspondence from the Department of Transport to Monaghan County Council appears to cast doubt on the project.

Independent Councillor Paudge Connolly said the council was told by the National Roads Authority (NRA) that the scheme "was not in any of their policies".

Councillors and business leaders are now seeking talks with the Republic's Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey.

"I had a motion before the council to lobby the NRA about what was happening with the road between Clontibret and Moybridge and at least get a start date," Mr Connolly said.

"We received correspondence back from the NRA that it was not on their radar.

"They stated that it was not in any of their policies and that we were knocking on the wrong door.

"We were told to go to the Minister for Transport so on foot of that I again wrote to him but he wrote back referring me back to the NRA.

"We're in limbo at the moment - the NRA say they have nothing to do with it and the minister has referred us away. We hope that Minister Dempsey will give us a meeting to tell us where we are."

(BMcC/NS)