A GLASGOW MSP has asked the Government if it has considered a bridge linking Scotland to Ireland.

Anne McTaggart, Glasgow Labour MSP, asked Transport Minister, Keith Brown, what its position was regarding the feasibility of a bridge across the sea.

Studies have previously been carried out by a think tank about a 21-mile long bridge from Stranraer to Belfast, which would be one of the longest sea crossings in the world.

The Centre for Cross Border Studies estimated the cost in 2007 to be around £3.5billion.

With the new Forth Crossing at under two miles and costing at least £1.6bn that seems largely underestimated.

The Transport minister however, said there are no plans to consider any bridge between the countries, but investment in cross border travel was a priority.

Mr Brown said: "We have no plans to consider the feasibility of the construction of a road bridge linking Scotland with Northern Ireland.

"However, we recognise the importance of providing good passenger and freight links between Scotland and Northern Ireland via the Loch Ryan Port facilities."

He said £26million was being invested in the A75 across two projects. And he added that more than £44m was ­being spend on improving the A77 through ­Ayrshire leading to the ferry ports in the south west linking to Northern Ireland.

He added: "All these schemes will improve journey time reliability on these key strategic routes."

A spokeswoman for Scottish Labour said Ms McTaggart was not suggesting a bridge should be considered and ­added it is certainly not party policy.

Instead, she said the question was in res­ponse to an article on a website the MSP had seen discussing "amazing" transport plans.