Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
Trevor Sargent
Question:
156
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Finance
if he will give details of submissions made by Sligo Corporation and Sligo County Council, or their appropriate regional authority, in relation to the National Development Plan concerning projects which have sought funding under the European social, regional development and cohesion funding headings.
[2560/98]
The submissions by Sligo Corporation and County Council as submitted by the North-West Sub Regional Review Committee in their formal submission to the Department of Finance in respect of the National Development Plan 1994-9 are as follows:
Sligo County Council
Operational Programme on Peripherality
Overall objective stated in current Operational Programme — providing an efficient and cost effective transport network must remain a prime objective for post-1993 funding: the improvement of the main east-west road link (N4) must be continued; the road system between Shannon and the north-west merits a high priority as a link with the main ports of entry; a designated improved link road with the North of Ireland is urgent (improvement of N17 and continue through to Belfast). The north-west would benefit by reduced travel time, a stimulus to industry and tourism, and reduced peripherality; minor roads (especially those serving tourist areas) must be improved and a percentage of post-1993 funding should go to improve roads and sanitary facilities in rural areas.
Estimated Cost of Recommended Road Improvements in County Sligo.
|
£million
|
|
National Primary Roads
|
77.5
|
|
National Secondary Roads
|
8.0
|
|
Regional Roads
|
13.5
|
|
County Roads (strengthen and improve to facilitate rural development: forestry, fishing, tourist facilities)
|
10.0
|
|
Total
|
109.0
|
Water Supplies.
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£million
|
|
Sligo and environs — augmentation to meet industrial and tourism needs
|
7.0
|
|
North Sligo Water Supply Regional Scheme
|
1.4
|
|
Extension of Lough Easkey scheme to serve Castleconnor and Skreen-Dromard
|
1.75
|
|
Extension of Lough Talt scheme to service activities Ballymote — to support industrial and other
|
0.75
|
|
Total
|
10.9
|
Sewerage Schemes
Various small town and village schemes, new and improved, for tourist and industrial to meet current needs and provide activities £1.5 million.
The submission also highlights a number of other infrastructural priorities crucial to the continued economic development of Sligo.
Air Transport
Sligo Regional Airport crucial to development of the entire north-west. Provision of a businesstechnological park on land adjacent to airport should have priority status. Land owned by airport company. Estimated cost £3.0 million.
Harbours
The eight harbours and piers under the control of the council make a significant contribution to the local economy for leisure and fishing activities. A Five Year Plan to develop them has been prepared. Estimated cost £2.0 million.
Coastal Management
Considerable damage by severe storms in recent years. Extensive cost erosion. Coast vitally important to tourism and leisure activities. Proper and effective coastal management necessary. Estimated cost £6.0 million.
Rail
Improvement of Sligo-Dublin rail link is vital and urgent. 3.5 hours for 136 mile journey speaks for itself.
Waste Disposal
EC regulations will impose considerable burden on local authorities. A properly run land fill site is essential. Estimated cost £1.0 million.
Environmental and Amenity Schemes
Improvement of the environment in towns and villages can have significant economic and social benefits. Possibilities for valuable partnership between State, local authority, business sector, and local community.
The CRISP scheme funded by IFI in the North is an indication of potential. Similar scheme in rural areas here could be extremely beneficial in stimulating community enterprise. Estimated cost £3.0 million.
Operational Programme for Tourism
Sligo not yet identified as a tourist destination centre. New product development drawing on key strengths required. A major facility with both national and international appeal is paramount for promoting Sligo. Four key areas: (i) Develop the "Yeats" theme in total; (ii) Strong traditional music heritage — Michael Coleman, Morrison and others; (iii) Rich archaeological heritage needs imaginative development; (iv) Develop Sligo as a centre for a variety of exciting water sports activities. A Tourism Strategy Plan for the county is vital. Estimated cost for overall budget +£10.0 million.
Sligo Corporation
Sligo Borough is the natural regional centre for the north-west — more than twice the population of the next largest urban centre — centrally located in the region.
Roads
Improvement to road systems, both to and within the borough, should be a priority under the Peripherality Operational Programme. A list of necessary road works, within the borough, is set out in the Appendix to Submission. Cost approximately £8.2 million.
Harbour
A new deepwater jetty and refurbishment of the existing quayside is vital to the development of Sligo Port, which is the main commercial harbour on the north-west coast. Cost approximately £2.0 million.
Water, Sanitary and other Local Services
A range of developments required to meet the domestic, commercial and industrial demand and to provide a sewerage-drainage system which will meet EC requirements, is set out in the Appendix, at an estimated cost of £15.0 million.
Tourism Operational Programme
Sligo, as capital of the north-west, is a major focus for tourism. It has also been designated as a regional sports centre. It is, however, in common with other urban centres in the north-west very weak in terms of tourism infrastructure.
A major tourism focus is required. Proposals for a flagship tourist centre project costing an estimated £5 million are included in a list of 12 projects, detailed in the Appendix to the Submission, costing in total, £14.8 million.
The appendix referred to in the case of Sligo Corporation's submission was not included in the regional submission.
