LMFM By Ruth O'Connell Joan Martin argued the fact the funding application was unsuccessful does not mean it was substandard The Chief Executive of Louth County Coucil has defended her officials' handling of the latest failed funding application for the Port Access/Northern Cross Route in Drogheda. At the local authority's monthly meeting this morning, Joan Martin said her staff had done an excellent job and claimed that both the Minister and Secretary General of the Department of Local Government had thought the application was very good. She added that it's not her fault if those assessing the application, don't see it as a perfect fit for the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund scheme.