Northern Ireland

Fianna Fáil TD says bridge to Scotland 'madness' when Narrow Water not built

A bridge to Scotland has been widely dismissed as too costly and too much of an engineering challenge
A bridge to Scotland has been widely dismissed as too costly and too much of an engineering challenge A bridge to Scotland has been widely dismissed as too costly and too much of an engineering challenge
By Claire Simpson

A FIANNA Fáil TD has said it would be "madness" to prioritise a multi-billion pound bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland ahead of the cross-border Narrow Water bridge.

The proposed Narrow Water bridge from Warrenpoint in Co Down to Omeath in Co Louth was due to open in 2015 but was hit by a series of issues.

It is understood that planning permission for the bridge remains valid.

Fianna Fáil Louth TD Declan Breathnach told the Dáil it was disappointing that the bridge, which was first proposed in 2008, had still not been built.

"Boris Johnson and other politicians are talking about building a bridge between the north of Ireland and Scotland," he said.

"This Larne to Stranraer bridge would be 20 miles long and cost billions.

"It's madness to think of this when the bridge from Omeath in Louth to Narrow Water in Down would be 660 metres long and was to cost only €6 million to the state."