Vol. 572 No. 3
162 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Transport the main features of the proposed EU investment plan for transport here; the total amount of money likely to be available from the EU; when it is expected that this funding will become available; if he has agreed with the EU the projects to be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23125/03]
As part of a review of the guidelines for the TransEuropean Transport Networks, which were adopted by the Council and European Parliament in 1996, a high level committee of the member states, the Van Miert Group, was established by the EU Commission in December last. The mandate of group included reviewing progress on existing projects and identifying the future priority needs of an enlarged Union. The group reported to the EU Commission in June 2003. Ireland supported the groups report which identified four projects affecting Ireland (1) the road-rail corridor between Dublin and Belfast, (2) road-rail corridor between Dublin and Cork, (3) a road-rail corridor linking the west and Dublin, identified as an important project for territorial cohesion, and (4) a motorway of the sea of western Europe, leading from the Iberian Peninsula via the Atlantic Arc to the North Sea and the Irish Sea. This latter project is the responsibility of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. On 1 October 2003, the European Commission published its proposals to amend the guidelines adopted in 1996 to give legal status to the various projects in the Van Miert report. The European Commission proposals also envisage an increase in the EU contribution to the cost of the projects from 10% to 30% in relation to the cross-border sections of the priority projects. The Commission proposals are now being assessed by my Department and will be considered by the Council of Transport Ministers and the European Parliament in the forthcoming months. EU funding for the projects will not be determined until the amended guidelines proposed are agreed and adopted and until the necessary budgetary allocations are agreed by the Commission.
Question No. 163 answered with Question No. 111.
