James Leonard
Question:65 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Finance, in view of the need to improve non-national road structures, if funding from the Delors Peace Initiative will be paid directly to local authorities. [6694/95]
Written Answers. - Road Funding.
The main emphasis of the EU Community Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties is to bring the divided communities together and to combat social exclusion. Among a series of proposed actions set out in the guidelines for the programme is the upgrading of infrastructures through reinstating closed cross-Border roads and bridges. This measure will contribute to restoring cross-Border economic and community links which had been disrupted over the past 25 years.
The European Commission and the two administrations have embarked on a process of wide consultation with sectoral and local interests preparatory to drawing up an operational programme. While no final decisions have been taken at this stage as to funding mechanisms in respect of local infrastructure in the Border counties it is likely that arrangements similar to those in operation under the main operational programme for transport and under the INTERREG programme will be adopted.