Vol. 491 No. 6
109 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will agree to the request from the consultative panel of the Dublin Transportation Office that EU funds secured to alleviate Dublin's traffic problems, and which are now available because of the Luas postponement, be immediately allocated to fund the full implementation of the quality bus corridors, traffic calming measures and cycle lanes proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13110/98]
As I outlined in my reply to question No. 179 on 26 May, the Community Support Framework Monitoring Committee is the body with responsibility for making decisions on the reallocation of Structural Fund assistance decommitted from the light rail project. I understand that the committee will consider the matter later this month.
My primary concern has always been to ensure that Ireland does not lose the EU funding involved and that objective will now be achieved through the timely transfer of this money to other suitable projects. I will be working hard to ensure that a reasonable proportion of the £114 million decommitted from the light rail project will be used to address public transport requirements.
The Deputy will appreciate that, while I am supportive of the projects mentioned by him, they are a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment and Local Government.
