Robert Molloy
Question:186 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for the Environment the current position regarding an application from Galway Corporation for funding in respect of the Western Distributor Road, Knocknacarra, Galway. [12717/96]
Written Answers. - Western Distributor Road (Galway).
Three applications were received from Galway Corporation for funding in 1996 under the EU cofinanced scheme of grants, at a cost of £2.2 million. The Western Distributor Road was included in these proposals. However, as the applications considerably exceeded the appropriate expenditure guideline limit set out by my Department, the proposals were returned to the corporation for revision and resubmission.
The corporation resubmitted two proposals in December 1995 for funding in 1996 at a cost of £335,000. The Western Distributor Road was not one of these. Local authorities are advised by my Department that it is accepted that circumstances can arise where a single large high priority project can exceed the expenditure guideline; in such circumstances, only the single project concerned should be submitted for consideration.
It will be open to Galway Corporation to consider whether to apply for funding for the Western Distributor Road on this basis in 1997.