Cecilia Keaveney
Question:154 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her response to the Donegal task force report which was presented in June 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18913/99]
Written Answers - Donegal Task Force Report.
I studied with interest this very comprehensive report. Many of the recommendations put forward by the Donegal employment initiative task force are already receiving active support by my Department or by the State bodies under my aegis.
The report recognises the support which is being given by my Department to improve air access to the region. Donegal Airport is currently receiving assistance under three separate headings. The daily air service to Dublin is supported under the essential air services programme and Exchequer grants are provided for capital developments and marketing services. In relation to the city of Derry Airport, I have provided a £1.5 million capital grant for runway improvement work. This is being matched by a similar grant from the Office of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I have a particular interest in a Derry to Dublin air service, as discussed in the report, and the possibilities for encouraging such a service are under active review.
The report calls for the upgrading of the Sligo-Dublin rail link and I can confirm that upgrading of this route to continuous welded rail forms part of the Iarnród Eireann £430 million railway safety programme 1999-2003. In addition, the company plans to carry out renewal works on a number of bridges and level crossings as well as improving the fencing on the line. In relation to the provision of shuttle-feeder links into Donegal, I understand that Bus Éireann already runs bus services from Sligo railway station which serve the south Donegal and Derry areas and that consideration is being given to increasing these services.
I recognise that in certain regions of the country, competition alone will not provide the required telecommunications infrastructural investment. Given the importance of such investment as a basis for employment generation, I awarded, on 5 July 1999, co-funding under the EU INTERREG and economic infrastructure operational programmes to two projects which will support the development of advanced communications networks and services in Donegal. Esat Telecom will roll out fibre optic cable in ten urban areas in the State, including Letterkenny and Eircom will install a 95 km. high capacity fibre optic cable along the west coast of Donegal, from Bunbeg to Donegal town and from Dunfanaghy to Falcarragh serving all communities – up to 71,000 people – along the route. Contracts for these two projects have been signed and works must be completed by 31 December 2000. In addition, Eircom will provide 0.3 million euros from its own resources to help establish two technology information communication centres in Donegal which will provide IT and telecommunications services to local communities and businesses.
Following on these initiatives, my Department in association with Forfás, is currently preparing telecommunications investment proposals for the next national development plan. In targeting this investment, I have asked my officials to take full account of the recommendations contained in the Donegal employment initiative task force report. The report calls for the building of a 110 kv electricity loop in west Donegal.
ESB have successfully applied, with the assistance of my Department, for TENS funding to study reinforcement and the long-term supply options in the north west. This study is still ongoing. The second interim progress report has recently been forwarded by ESB to the European Commission. The results of the study will set out the best option for strengthening the networks, obtaining planning permission and bringing the project to the investment stage.
The task force has called for the commissioning of a report to examine the serving of the north and west of Ireland with natural gas.
I understand that the question of bringing gas to Derry is under consideration by the Northern Ireland authorities. The Deputy will be aware of the recent announcement of a gas find in the Corrib field and of the possibilities this may offer for the supply of gas to the north west. Both of these possibilities have some potential to improve the prospects extending the supply of natural gas to Donegal. Until more is known about these events, it would be somewhat premature to commission the report recommended by the task force.