Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
656 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding an application for funding from Wicklow County Development Board for funding for the Wicklow rural transport initiative; if, in view of the circumstances, funding can be increased as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11577/04]
View answerI have received a request from Wicklow County Development Board for additional funding for the Wicklow rural transport initiative and have responded in the matter. Area Development Management Limited, ADM, is managing the RTI on behalf of my Department and I have copied this correspondence to ADM for its information.
There has been no reduction in the funding provided by my Department for the rural transport initiative, RTI. On the contrary, while €4.4 million was earmarked for the RTI in the national development plan, some €6 million has already been provided for the initiative in the two year period ending December 2003 and further funding of €3 million is being provided in 2004. Specific allocations for individual RTI projects are made from this funding by ADM.
I understand that the allocations to date from ADM do not include funding arising from the application of the free travel scheme to the RTI in 2004 or any funding which individual projects might acquire from other sources. In addition to the funding from my Department, I understand that the Department of Social and Family Affairs will provide up to €500,000 for the operation of the free travel scheme in the RTI in 2004. ADM is in the process of contacting the RTI groups as regards the individual allocations from this funding.
