Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Roads Funding.

John V. Farrelly

Question:

629 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the date of an announcement made for Rathcairn Gaeltacht in County Meath, of moneys made available from her Department for the building of a new road from the Gaeltacht in Rathcairn to the Trim-Navan road; the amount of money paid to the consultants appointed by Meath County Council; the basis of the initial announcement made that there are sufficient funds in her Department for the completion of this work; the total proposed contract price involved; if this announcement was made with her approval; if she will ensure that the project is carried out; if representations have been made to her; the persons or groups by whom these proposals were originally initiated; if they were done according to the rules and regulations laid down by her Department for such funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26115/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Ms Coughlan):

My Department has, in consultation with Meath County Council, identified the road referred to by the Deputy as one of the strategic Gaeltacht roads, which it is hoped will be improved during the currency of the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

In this context, my Department has indicated to Meath County Council that it is prepared to provide funding of £150,000 per year, commencing this year and continuing for the duration of the national development plan to enable such improvement works to be carried out. However, no funding has to date been formally sanctioned by my Department for this project and, furthermore, I am not aware of any announcement of the provision of such funding.

I understand Meath County Council appointed consultants to undertake a feasibility study of this road and that, based on the report received, the council has recently begun the public consultation process as part of Part X of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994. As the public consultation process has only recently begun, the question of the total contract price for the project does not arise at this point. The amount paid to the consultants is a matter for Meath County Council in the first instance.

Once the consultation and planning process has been completed and other issues have been resolved, the question of the provision of funding for the improvement of the road will be considered further. In this context, it is a matter for Meath County Council, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Local Government, to ensure that the additional funding which may be required to complete this project is provided. Neither I nor my Department has received any representations on this matter.