asked the Minister for Finance the present position regarding the application by the Mayo County Development Team for funding for an EC study on the possible cost or restoration and development of the Claremorris to Collooney railway line.
Written Answers. - Claremorris/Collooney Railway Line.
52.
No application has been received in my Department from the Mayo county development team for funding for an EC study on the possible cost of restoration of the Claremorris to Collooney railway line. However, I am aware that an application for European Regional Development Fund assistance towards the cost of a study of the restoration of the Collooney to Claremorris railway line was forwarded direct to the European Commission by the Western Inter-County Railway Committee in December 1988.
Because the application was not submitted to the European Commission through my Department — which is the designated body responsible for ERDF applications — the European Commission advised that the application would not be processed until my Department's approval for the study was forthcoming.
Since there would be no purpose in carrying out a study unless a reasonable prospect existed that the implementation of meaningful follow-up action would ensue, my Department sought the recommendation of my colleague, Deputy John Wilson, Minister for Tourism and Transport, on the proposal. His Department have advised that the proposal is under consideration and that a recommendation as to whether the proposal merits support will be made having regard to all the factors involved.