Vol. 525 No. 2
667 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the arrangements that will be in place for funding urban and village improvement schemes under the National Plan, 2000-06 in view of the strong case being made by the villages and towns which did not receive funding for such improvements in the 1994-99 allocation. [24052/00]
Following the urban and village renewal grants scheme 1994-99, the national development plan 2000-06, provides for a continuation of a programme of urban and village renewal with investment of over £100 million over the seven year period. This investment is divided between the operational programmes for the border midland western region and the south east region.
These new regional operational programmes have been submitted for approval to the EU. Once these negotiations are concluded and approval to the operational programmes is received from the EU, allocations of funding will be made to local authorities as soon as possible.
The selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded under the new measures will be a matter for the local authorities, having regard to EU and national regulations and policies.
