Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1998

Vol. 493 No. 4

Written Answers. - EU Funding.

Brendan Smith

Question:

81 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the total funding available to her Department under the INTERREG II programme; the projects assisted to date; the level of expenditure per project; the projects that will be assisted for the remainder of the programme; the level of funding per project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16534/98]

Brendan Smith

Question:

82 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will outline the investment proposals in progress or planned to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure in the Border regions; the level of funding, if any, that will be provided; the particular projects, if any, that will be assisted; and the level of funding per project. [16535/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions No 81 and 82 together.

In so far as the sectors under the aegis of my Department are concerned, EU aid of £14.8 million is being provided from the Joint INTERREG Programme for Northern Ireland and Ireland, 1994 — 1999 and £1.32 million from the Ireland — Wales Maritime INTERREG Programme, 1994 — 1999.

Under the Ireland — Northern Ireland INTERREG Programme, the total investment programme in the transport, energy and telecommunications sectors approved for grant assistance to date amounts to £26.78 million involving EU aid of £12.8 million approximately. Details of these investments are as follows: 1. upgrading of telecommunications networks at a cost of £11.6 million of which £5.8 million is EU aid; 2. upgrading of electricity networks involving total investment of £12.38 million of which £6 million is EU aid; 3. promotion of energy efficiency and use of indigenous energy sources estimated at £1 million of which £500,000 is EU aid; and 4. upgrading of bus stations involving an estimated investment of £1.8 million of which £500,000 is EU aid.

The outstanding aid provision of £2 million in the allocation is to be used for infrastructure projects to assist the development of the information society along the Border area. The extent of EU aid for individual projects may vary slightly due to changes in the ECU/IR£ exchange rate.

In so far as the Ireland — Wales Maritime INTERREG Programme, is concerned, sub-programme I, measure 1 provides for an investment of £3.15 million of which £1.32 million is EU aid on the upgrading of transport facilities. The investments under the measure, which were completed earlier in 1998 are as follows: 1. upgrading of Dún Laoghaire Dart Station involving a total investment of £1.45 million of which £725,000 is EU aid; and 2. provision of a rail connection from North Wall to Dublin Port involving a total investment of £1.7 million of which £595,000 is EU aid.

Apart from the EU-backed investment programme, Telecom Éireann will spend, as part of its ongoing capital investment programme, an additional £2.6 million on the development of telecommunications infrastructure in the financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99.