Vol. 452 No. 2
94 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment if he will meet with a delegation from Balbriggan Town Commissioners and Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce regarding the case being made for the inner relief road to be completed in tandem with the M1 section currently under construction and regarding the options for urban renewal and the provision of proper sewage treatment. [7834/95]
Statutory responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of nonnational roads rests with relevant local authority, in this case, Fingal County Council. It is a matter for the council to finance necessary works from its own resources, supplemented by the annual discretionary grant provided by my Department. The determination of priorities in the expenditure of this grant is a matter for the council.
While unsuccessful in 1995, it will be open to the council to consider whether to resubmit an application for funding in 1996 for the completion of the Balbriggan inner relief road under the EU co-financed scheme of grants.
As regards urban renewal, I am aware of the case made for designation of many towns, including Balbriggan, but to be effective, the scheme must be limited in its application. I do not intend, therefore, to extend the scheme to any further towns or cities.
Fingal County Council has applied to my Department for approval to appoint consultants to prepare a preliminary report for a Skerries and Balbriggan waste water disposal scheme. A reply will issue to the council in the near future.
In the circumstances outlined, I do not think that a meeting with the town commissioners at this stage would help to advance any of the projects referred to.
