Beverley Flynn
Question:71 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of money which has been allocated and spent to date by his Department in each of the BMW counties under the national development plan. [24624/01]
Written Answers. - National Development Plan.
No funds have been allocated to the Department of Foreign Affairs under the national development plan.
Beverley Flynn
Question:72 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the amount of money which has been allocated and spent to date by her Department in each of the BMW counties under the national development plan. [24625/01]
Over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2000 – 2006, it is envisaged that at least £197 million, 250 million, will be spent in the BMW region under the regional public transport programme. This includes £120 million, 152 million, on railway safety, £45 million, 57 million, on non-safety related railway improvements and almost £32 million, 40.63 million, on bus services.
It is not possible at present to provide a breakdown of the expenditure to date on a county by county basis. However, overall to the end of June, 2001, almost £64.20 million, 81.51 million, has been spent on public transport projects in the BMW region under the above programme. These projects are being implemented by CIE, with Iarnród Éireann being responsible for development of the rail infrastructure, rolling stock and services, and Bus Éireann developing regional bus services.
The main objectives are to upgrade the mainline rail infrastructure, rolling stock and facilities to improve the safety of the network, increase the physical capacity of the railway to cater for growing passenger demand and also to improve the quality, speed and reliability of services. These objectives will be achieved through mainline rail investment in safety and renewal; regional bus improvements; accessibility improvements to existing public transport infrastructure and facilities; and ongoing fleet replacement and re-equipment by Bus Éireann.
The NDP monitoring committee established by my Department which includes representatives from the CIE Group and the Department of Finance, is responsible for overseeing progress, both financial and physical, of the public transport projects.
Under the airports measure of the national development plan, a sum of £8 million, 10.12 million – 1999 prices – has been allocated to assist with necessary infrastructural upgrades and improvements at the four regional airports in the BMW region at Carrickfin in Donegal, Sligo, Galway and Knock. There has been no expenditure to date of this amount. However, my Department is currently examining and assessing the projects which have been submitted for support under the NDP by the four regional airport authorities concerned.
Aside from the funds provided for under the NDP, my Department also provides support for marketing activities and for safety and security measures at the regional airports. Over the two year period, 2000-01, a sum of £1.845 million, 2.343 million, was allocated under the scheme to the four airports in the BMW region as follows: Donegal Airport, £300,000 – 380,921; Galway Airport, £325,000 – 412,665; Sligo Airport, £300,000 – 380,921; and Knock Airport, £920,000 – 1,168,159. In addition, my Department supports the operation of public service obligation, PSO, air services on the routes connecting the regional airports in Donegal, Sligo, Knock and Galway with Dublin.
Under the sustainable energy priority within the framework of the national development plan, £61.49 million, 78.08 million, is earmarked for investment in the BMW region. My Department has overall responsibility for the administration of this funding and the Irish Energy Centre, IEC, which operates under the aegis of my Department, is the main conduit for implementing this priority. To date there has been no expenditure incurred in the BMW region. However, the IEC has recently finalised details of a three year work programme which will prioritise spending on energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in the different regions.
An allocation of £19 million, 24.1 million, has been made for communications infrastructure initiatives in the BMW region under the National Development Plan 2000 – 2006. No expenditure has been made to date.
Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 7.