Vol. 537 No. 4
124 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has further considered the need to make funding available to allow vehicular access to Fort Villas in Cobh County Cork; the amount which would be required to enable such access to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16482/01]
I refer the Deputy to Question No. 309 of 14 November 2000 and to Question No. 296 of 21 November 2000.
The Cobh landslide programme involves the provision of financial assistance by my Department to Cobh urban district council to undertake remedial works to strengthen areas susceptible to landslips. Consistent with the enabling powers in the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act, 1964, the criterion for assistance is that works undertaken must be necessary in order to avert danger to the public. As the reinstatement of private vehicular access does not meet the criterion, it is not possible to provide financial assistance for this work.
The consulting engineers engaged by the local authority on the landslide programme estimated the road restoration work cost in excess of £430,000 at March 2000.
