Michael Creed
Question:335 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the specific strategic routes in the Cork Gaeltacht in respect of which her Department has received requests for funding for 2001. [25640/00]
Written Answers. - Roads Funding.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has this year secured additional funding during the duration of the national development plan for the improvement of strategic Gaeltacht roads. As a result it has this year embarked on a seven year plan, the objective of which when completed is having one good road of a suitable standard into every Gaeltacht area. In this context I, together with officials of my Department, have over recent weeks held initial discussions with Cork County Council, and with all the other relevant county councils, in relation to the preparation of a programme of works for the year 2001 and subsequent years for the improvement of these roads. Officials of my Department have subsequently been in contact with officials of Cork County Council and the other county councils in order to finalise proposals which will then be submitted to my Department.
My Department gets advice from the Department of the Environment and Local Government in relation to technical and other aspects of these works.
I hope to be in a position to announce details of the strategic Gaeltacht roads to be funded in 2001 in the different Gaeltacht areas, including Cork, by the end of this year or in any event by mid-January 2001.