Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 6

Written Answers. - Road Networks Improvement Funding.

Patrick D. Harte

Question:

55 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of interregional funding allocated to each county for the purpose of improving road networks; the basis on which the allocation was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Brendan McGahon

Question:

80 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of interregional funding allocated to each county for the purpose of improving road networks; the basis on which the allocation was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

82 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of inter-regional funding allocated to each county for the purpose of improving road networks; the basis on which the allocation was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

85 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of interregional funding allocated to each county for the purpose of improving road networks; the basis on which the allocation was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 80, 82 and 85 together.

Under the Interreg (Border Areas) Operational Programme, the European Regional Development Fund will recoup £2.15 million (1992 prices) of a total expenditure of £4.3 million on certain non-national road improvement projects in the period 1992 to 1993. The projects will be financed, in full, in the first instance, from specific road grant allocations by my Department and the European Regional Development Fund recoupment will, therefore, be paid into the Exchequer.

In September 1991, my Department requested local authorities in the six Border counties to nominate appropriate road projects for the Interreg Programme. A total of 125 projects, with a combined cost of £19.602 million, were nominated.

Details of the projects selected for implementation in 1992 and the grant allocation for each project were notified to the local authorities on 18 March last. The following are the allocations for the six Border counties:

County Council	£
Cavan	450,000
Donegal	350,000
Leitrim	200,000
Louth	230,000
Monaghan	350,000
Sligo	295,000
	1,875,000

The projects were chosen having regard to the selection criteria set out in the Interreg Programme. Account was also taken of the length of the non-national road network in each county and the condition of the network.

Assistance under the Interreg Programme may also be provided for projects in areas adjacent to Border counties which are of benefit to development within these counties. Accordingly, Longford, Meath and Roscommon County Councils were invited to nominate appropriate road projects and put forward a total of 17 projects with a combined cost of £3.310 million. A grant of £75,000 for Interreg projects has been allocated to each of these three authorities.