Vol. 404 No. 7
9 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment when he will sanction the funding to Cork Corporation to repair Parliament Bridge in Cork which is on one of the main traffic routes to the city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the bridge in question does not form part of the network of national roads, primary responsibility for the proposed works rests with the local authority, Cork Corporation. The cost of such works falls to be financed from local resources supplemented by the discretionary grants provided by my Department. In the case of Cork Corporation, these grants totalled £939,000 in 1990, including a supplementary grant of £250,000 for improvement works on non-national roads. The determination of priorities in the expenditure of these grants is a matter for the local authority. I hope, within the next few weeks, to be in a position to notify all local authorities of the 1991 road grants.
Is the Minister aware that a temporary bridge across the River Lee in this area has been in place for the last six months and that the bridge in question, Parliament Bridge, is of great importance? While the Minister is obviously not a bridge builder with Cork Corporation I ask him to sanction finance for this bridge as it is on a main artery into the city from the southside and is urgently needed. As we have been waiting for six months, would the Minister be more specific as to when Cork Corporation will receive an allocation?
The Deputy understands that as it is not on one of the national primary routes it has consequently to be funded from the block grant and other moneys available to the local authority. There is a very big allocation of money and perhaps they should be able to cater for it from existing funds.
Therefore no specific funding will be made available for this bridge from the Department, despite the fact that Cork Corporation have requested this?
No special grant has been made available to date for this bridge and the Deputy knows the reason.
