Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 5

Written Answers. - Capital Projects.

Richard Bruton

Question:

419 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will publish the details of the capital projects being initiated during 2003 by his Department and planned for the following four years; and the current estimate of the final cost of the projects in each case. [14457/03]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

The capital expenditure budget of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs relates both to specific capital projects and on-going programmes of work, including demand led schemes. Details of our programme are published in the 2003 public capital programme.

A breakdown of planned capital expenditure in 2003 is set out on a subhead basis in the following table. Plans for the following four years have not been finalised. The amounts involved will obviously be influenced by the level of ongoing demand as well as budgetary considerations.

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Subhead	2003€'000
D. – Tithe Gaeltachta	4,000
E. – Scéimeanna Feabhsúcháin sa Gaeltacht	10,294
H.2 – Údarás na Gaeltachta	24,000
Non-Voted	6,000
I. – Oiléain	6,129
K.2 – Drugs Initiative	1,192
K.3 – Peace Programme	133
L. – Youth Services and Facilities	10,133
M. – Waterways Ireland	11,079
N.2 – Western Investment Fund	2,013
O.1 – NDP Rural Development Schemes	6,390
O.2 – LEADER, Peace and Interreg	13,873
O.3 – CLÁR	9,517
Gross Total	106,803
Appropriations-in-Aid	11,700
Net Total	95,103

The main Capital Programmes planned for 2003 by my Department are outlined below

Tithe GaeltachtaA sum of €4 million is included for new home, and home improvement, grants in the Gaeltacht as part of the supports for the Irish language there.

Scéimeanna Feabhsúcháin sa GaeltachtThe provision of €10.294 million will facilitate the improvement of strategic Gaeltacht roads, access roads, village renewal, marine works and the provision and refurbishment of community and recreational facilities in the Gaeltacht.

Údarás na GaeltachtaA sum of €30 million, including €6 million non-Exchequer funding, will be available to An tÚdarás to provide grant assistance to new and expanding industry in the Gaeltacht, to purchase additional share capital in subsidiary and associate companies and to finance its building programme. The non-Exchequer element of this expenditure is funded mainly from internal resources.

Island InfrastructureAn amount of €6.129 million from Exchequer sources is provided in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Vote for infrastructural works such as piers, roads and other facilities on populated offshore islands.

DrugsIn 2003 an Exchequer allocation of €1.192 million is provided under the national drugs strategy for the development of premises for community based projects in local drugs task force areas. A further €10 million approximately is available for youth services and facilities with the aim of preventing the development of drug problems.

Waterways IrelandA sum of €11 million is provided for works on the Waterways, mainly on the Shannon, the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Grand and Royal Canals and the Barrow Navigation, and for buildings for the relatively new body.

LeaderLeader is the European Commission's initiative on rural development which enables approved groups to implement their own multi-sectoral integrated business plans for the development of their areas. A sum of €13.873 million has been provided in 2003 for this capital expenditure, including some on INTERREG and Peace II initiatives.

Rural Development SchemesCapital expenditure of €17.920 million will take place on other rural development schemes, mainly the area based rural development initiative, CLÁR and the Western Investment Fund.