Vol. 437 No. 6
331 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for the Environment if European Union regulations permit him to use a percentage of the structural or cohesion funds for improvement works on county and non-primary roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Development Plan proposes an investment programme of £475 million for non national roads with £235 million of this expenditure to be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Cohesion Fund assistance for the development of road infrastructure is restricted to roads of common interest forming part of the Trans European Road Network (TENS). In the case of Ireland, national primary roads have been accepted as meeting the minimum criteria for inclusion in the Network.
