PLANNING authorities have been unable to clarify whether permission for the troubled Narrow Water Bridge project has expired.
Approval for the cross-border bridge at Carlingford Lough was granted in 2012 and was set to lapse last October after the project was shelved amid funding problems.
However, some eleventh-hour works were carried out on the northern side in a bid to prevent the consent lapsing.
Louth County Council – which submitted the plans to officials in the north for planning approval – has expressed confidence that development commenced on time and permission remains intact.
Stormont's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) said its planning division "discharged all the necessary pre-commencement conditions on the planning permission" and this "enabled the developer to commence the development".
But a spokeswoman added: "However it is for the local planning authority to check with the developer whether or not development took place within the required timeframe."
Newry, Mourne and Down council, the local planning authority, initially said it is not involved and referred all queries to DfI.
But when asked about DfI's stance, a council spokeswoman said it was a matter for the applicant to "satisfy themselves".
"The files associated with this application are currently held by DfI," she said.
"It is for the applicant/developer to have regard to the terms of the planning permission granted and to satisfy themselves that they have commenced the development within the lifetime of the planning permission and that all relevant conditions have been discharged."
In November Louth council said that under the north's planning system, approval does not expire if development has commenced.
"While this will address the issue of planning permission, funding has not been identified at this point," a spokesman told the Irish Independent.
DfI said ministers previously agreed through the North South Ministerial Council to explore options for progressing the project.
It said this work, jointly led by DfI and the south's transport department, "remains ongoing".
The cable-stayed bridge aims to link north and south between Omeath in Co Louth and Narrow Water Castle near Warrenpoint, Co Down.
The Irish News previously revealed Louth council has spent almost €2m on the project.
Newry, Mourne and Down council said it has had no expenditure on the project.
