Vol. 567 No. 7
249 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his Department has received an application from Cork County Council for funding for the R624 Cobh Road realignment, Fota-Belvelly; the amount requested by the local authority; if such an application was considered by his Department; if such an application was or will be successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15126/03]
In July 2002 local authorities were asked to submit to my Department proposals in respect of improvement works, including bridge strengthening works, on non-national roads which could be considered for funding under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme in 2003. All applications submitted under this scheme were considered in my Department having regard to EU eligibility criteria, the need to prioritise projects, competing demands from other local authorities and the funds available for the scheme in 2003.
Cork County Council's application for funding in 2003 under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme included an application for funding of €50,000 for the design phase of the R624 Cobh Road, Phase 1. However, this project was not among the council's 13 projects selected for funding in 2003. My Department will again be seeking applications under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme later this year and it would be open to the council to apply for funding for this scheme in 2004.
