Annex 2A of the Operational Programme for Transport is an indicative list of projects scheduled for construction in the period 1994-99. Inclusion of a project in the list does not necessarily imply that it will be submitted or approved for EU assistance. Projects other than those listed may also be submitted and/or approved for EU assistance. The selection of national road projects to be undertaken is a matter for the National Roads Authority and all projects for which EU assistance is sought have to be approved in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Fund or Cohesion Fund, as appropriate.
In April, 1993 following the submission by Sligo Corporation of an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Sligo Inner Relief Road, the Corporation were requested in co-operation with Sligo County Council, to arrange to have a new traffic study of the Borough and its environs carried out. The Corporation decided to undertake a more extensive report, including the preparation of a new Environmental Impact Statement. Volumes 1 and 2 of this report, covering an initial assessment of all options, were presented to the Borough Council on 10 April 1995. I understand that volumes 3-5 in relation to the Environmental Impact Statement, the preliminary design of the preferred route and the traffic study, will be presented to the Borough Council later this month. It will then be for the Corporation to decide whether to submit the full report and a Compulsory Purchase Order for the acquisition of necessary lands, to me for decision. Depending on the outcome of these procedures, it would be a matter for the National Roads Authority to decide on the allocation of grants for the project, having regard to available funding and the priorities within its overall improvement programme for national roads.
