James Leonard
Question:24 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Finance the discussions, if any, there have been between his Department and the Northern Ireland authorities on river drainage in the context of INTERREG funding. [5210/96]
Written Answers. - INTERREG Funding.
As Ireland does not meet the criteria for funding under the Community INTERREG initiative for transnational co-operation against flooding, which normally requires the involvement of at least three member states, there have been no recent discussions between officials of the Office of Public Works and the Northern Ireland authorities regarding drainage of cross-Border rivers. The prospects for such co-operation in the future are being examined.
The Office of Public Works existing drainage-flood relief programme involves the preparation of scheme designs and execution of schemes for eight priority areas, which will absorb resources for the immediate future. While none of these schemes includes the alleviation of flooding in problem areas in the Border region such areas will be considered for inclusion in the new drainage priority programme which is to be drawn up shortly.