Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 5

Written Answers. - Southern Cross Route.

Alan Shatter

Question:

18 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for the Environment the European Union Funds designated for the construction of the Southern Cross Motorway Route and the South-Eastern Motorway Route; the time within which the moneys must be allocated and spent pursuant to European Union rules under the present programme; and whether our failure to take up these funds and construct the routes within the designated timescale could result in the moneys ceasing to be available for the construction of these routes. [474/94]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

The following Cohesion Fund assistance was approved for these projects on 14 October 1994:

—a commitment of £42.4 million for the construction of the Southern Cross Route;

—a commitment of £1.5 million for the design and planning stage of the South Eastern Motorway.

Under the existing regulations, both Cohesion Fund and Structural Fund assistance may be committed up to 31 December 1999. The rules governing the funds provide the flexibility to transfer assistance to and from projects, and to adjust the phasing of assistance to particular projects depending on their rate of progress.

In August 1992. I approved with modifications the motorway scheme for the Southern Cross Route but implementation has since been delayed by reason of proceedings initiated in the High Court. Until the outcome of these proceedings is known, and the statutory procedures relating to the South Eastern Motorway have been completed, it would be premature to speculate about the drawdown of EU funds for them.