asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, that has been made on the preparation of joint British and Irish cross-Border projects under the European Community.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Projects.
28.
On 20th November, 1975, the Irish and UK Governments announced their agreement to make a joint application to the EEC Commission for financial support to undertake two cross-Border studies, one relating to communications and the other to fisheries. The study in communications will cover roads, railways, ports, airports and telecommunications in the Derry and Donegal area. The fisheries study will consider the potential contribution of certain sectors of the sea-fishing industry to the economy of both parts of Ireland.
Both Governments have made the joint approach to the Commission on 21st November and work has been going ahead on preparing the detailed briefs for the two studies. This has necessitated a number of North-South meetings of officials. Invitations have now been issued to firms of consultants to submit proposals to carry out the communications study. As regards the fisheries project, schemes for the study are being formulated by technical experts on both sides. A formal contract in respect of both studies will be submitted for consideration by the Commission as soon as the foregoing arrangements have been completed.
In view of the fact that it is more than two years since this matter was mooted first, will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is extreme urgency in regard to getting the studies under way because this is only the first stage? After the studies must come the project. Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us any indication as to when the studies are likely to commence and also when they might conclude so that the projects can begin?
The Government would sympathise entirely with the direction of the Deputy's concern. The meetings at official level and between both sides in regard to the terms of the communications study took place only within the past six to eight weeks but the Deputy can be assured that so far as this side of the House is concerned —I am sure the same goes for the other side—there will be no unnecessary delay.
Regarding the long delay which occurred before agreement on these matters was reached, the Deputy will recall being informed on a couple of occasions when he raised this matter here before that we could not get agreement from the British on anything except a very limited project. We wanted something larger and we now have agreement on substantial projects but for the length of time that it was not possible to get agreement from the British we cannot be faulted in regard to any dragging of heels.
I did not suggest that but regardless of whether the Government dragged their heels, they did not succeed in moving very fast.
A supplementary question please.
The delay seems to have been more effective than the Government's apparent enthusiasm. Was it within the past six to eight weeks that the groups got together on the preliminary direction of communications?
The officials finalised the terms of reference for the communications study at meetings held in Belfast on February 11th and in Dublin on March 4th. At these meetings the text of the detailed brief to be issued to consultants for the Derry-Donegal communications study was agreed.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary keep the House informed of progress in this matter?
Yes.