Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 5

Written Answers. - Advertising Boards.

Micheál Martin

Question:

87 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education whether it is normal procedure to place on advertising boards on sites where development under the aegis of her Department is taking place, statements to the effect that the development is being funded by her rather than the Exchequer; the reason this is on the Dún Laoghaire regional technical college site, County Dublin; and the person who authorised this advertising. [6847/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

It is a condition of the EU Commission that billboards be erected on the sites of capital projects part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. As a consequence, since the proposed new regional technical college at Dún Laoghaire is receiving financial aid under the EU's Structural Fund Programme it was necessary and normal to have a billboard erected on the site.

The Dún Laoghaire regional technical college has not yet been statutorily established and the site for the college remains vested in the Minister for Education. In addition, unlike third level projects generally, in this particular case the Minister for Education is the client. Accordingly, my Department considered it appropriate to include reference to both the EU and the Minister for Education on the billboard. The use of the term Minister is in line with the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924.

The sign erected on the site of the proposed new regional technical college was authorised by the manager of the third level section of the planning and building unit of the Department of Education. The wording on the billboard was decided following inquiries into European Regional Development Fund signs generally and having regard in particular to the requirements of the EU.