Cullen unveils €1.4bn road funding package

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has unveiled a record €1.4bn funding package for road projects this year.

Mr Cullen said the money would allow construction to begin on 19 new projects, eight of them in the border, midlands and western region.

The new projects include sections of the M3 motorway in Co Meath, the Waterford bypass and the final phase of the M1 between Dundalk and the border,

Mr Cullen also said the funding announced today would pave the way for the completion of eight projects in 2005, including the South Eastern Motorway and the Dublin Port Tunnel.

Meanwhile, the minister has confirmed he has ordered the National Roads Authority to carry out a feasibility study on a new ring-road around Dublin.

The road from Drogheda to Naas, via Navan, is being considered in an effort to ease congestion on the M50, which currently rings the capital.