asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have made any proposals to Brussels for the spending of the £20 million approximately which was provided in 1985 for development in the Border regions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these moneys have been lying for two years unspent while a lot of infrastructural development needs to be carried out in the Border counties; if he will consider submitting a proposal to Brussels for the improvement of county roads in the constituency of Cavan/Monaghan under this fund; if his attention has further been drawn to very serious deterioration of the above-named roads in this Border area; in making the case to Brussels, if he will point out the major serious impact road conditions are having in an already seriously depressed economic Border area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Border Regions Development.
A programme outlining the Government's intentions in relation to the spending of the money to which the Deputy refers was approved by the Commission of the European Communities at the end of 1987. The money will be devoted to extending the natural gas grid to the Border area and to the development of tourism in the area. Under the heading of tourism, it is possible to aid the construction or modernisation of minor roads giving access to tourist areas, and some £3 million in ERDF assistance has been provisionally allocated for this purpose. As the programme deals with the Border area as a whole, it is not possible at this stage to specify how much any particular county will receive in respect of roads. The other aspects of roads raised by the Deputy are a matter for the Minister for the Environment.