Jimmy Deenihan
Question:463 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the amount of money for roads (details supplied) in the Kerry Gaeltacht has been reduced in 2004. [20223/04]
View answerTuesday, 6 July 2004
Questions (431, 432, 433, 434)
Written answers
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 139 of 27 April 2004 relating to this matter. In 2000, an additional allocation of money was made available to my Department under the national development plan to improve the standard of non-national roads in Gaeltacht areas. Accordingly, my Department initiated a seven year works programme with the objective of ensuring that there would be at least one strategic road of appropriate standard going into each Gaeltacht area before 2007. I am glad to confirm to the Deputy that the works under my Department's programme are ahead of schedule at this time.
The allocation available under this programme is divided on an annual basis in accordance with: the population figures in the various Gaeltacht areas; the necessity of the work; and the amount of work that has already been completed under the programme in partnership with the relevant county council. A long-term commitment guaranteeing a particular level of expenditure under this programme has never been given in regard to the Kerry Gaeltacht or to any other Gaeltacht county. For the information of the Deputy, the amounts spent by my Department under this programme on roads in the Kerry Gaeltacht for the period 2000 to 2003 are listed below:
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
€ |
|
|
2000 |
1,015,790 |
|
2001 |
1,574,475 |
|
2002 |
1,000,000 |
|
2003 |
1,000,000 |
|
Total |
4,590,265 |
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:464 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the breakdown of the yearly funding (details supplied) which he has committed and provided for in the Gaeltacht regions in the other seven counties. [20224/04]
View answerI understand that the Deputy's question refers to expenditure by my Department on Gaeltacht roads only. The following are details of expenditure and approvals in relation to roads in the Gaeltacht counties for the period 2001 to 2004 to date, together with a summary table including comparative breakdowns of percentages of spend-approval and populations in the different counties:
|
Paid from 2001- 2003 |
Bóithre Straitéiseacha (Strategic Roads) |
*Bóithre Áise(Access Roads) |
|
|
€ |
€ |
||
|
2001 |
Donegal |
2,412,502.00 |
665,278.00 |
|
Mayo |
1,240,000.00 |
345,830.00 |
|
|
Galway |
1,841,120.43 |
335,172.00 |
|
|
Kerry |
1,549,080.46 |
493,240.00 |
|
|
Cork |
118,085.64 |
99,674.00 |
|
|
Waterford |
190,461.00 |
67,645.00 |
|
|
Meath |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Total Paid for 2001 |
7,351,249.53 |
2,006,839.00 |
|
|
2002 |
Donegal |
1,931,743.45 |
621,321.22 |
|
Mayo |
1,674,250.12 |
294,799.20 |
|
|
Galway |
2,035,948.00 |
338,053.00 |
|
|
Kerry |
1,000,000.00 |
268,278.77 |
|
|
Cork |
634,800.00 |
128,588.00 |
|
|
Waterford |
190,461.00 |
43,021.89 |
|
|
Meath |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Total paid for 2002 |
7,467,202.57 |
1,694,062.08 |
|
|
2003 |
Donegal |
1,623,844.00 |
131,649.00 |
|
Mayo |
1,125,000.00 |
171,806.00 |
|
|
Galway |
1,924,784.00 |
527,582.13 |
|
|
Kerry |
1,000,000.00 |
180,211.00 |
|
|
Cork |
535,000.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Waterford |
150,000.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Meath |
199,017.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Total Paid for 2003 |
6,557,645.00 |
1,011,248.13 |
|
|
Sanctioned for 2004 to date |
|||
|
Donegal |
1,300,000.00 |
309,398.00 |
|
|
Mayo |
800,000.00 |
216,425.00 |
|
|
Galway |
1,550,000.00 |
241,175.00 |
|
|
Kerry |
539,000.00 |
261,568.00 |
|
|
Cork |
510,000.00 |
100,374.00 |
|
|
Waterford |
150,000.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Meath |
150,000.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
Total sanctioned 2004 (to date) |
4,999,000.00 |
1,128,940.00 |
|
Bóithre Straitéiseacha (Strategic Roads) |
Bóithre Áise (Access Roads) |
Total paid/approved from 2001-2004 to date |
% of total paid/approved |
% of total Gaeltacht population |
|
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
|||
|
Donegal |
7,268,089.45 |
1,727,646.22 |
8,995,735.67 |
27.92 |
26.38 |
|
Mayo |
4,839,250.12 |
1,028,860.20 |
5,868,110.32 |
18.22 |
12.27 |
|
Galway |
7,351,852.43 |
1,441,982.13 |
8,793,834.56 |
27.30 |
44.52 |
|
Kerry |
4,088,080.46 |
1,203,297.77 |
5,291,378.23 |
16.42 |
9.55 |
|
Cork |
1,797,885.64 |
328,636.00 |
2,126,521.64 |
6.60 |
3.93 |
|
Waterford |
680,922.00 |
110,666.89 |
791,588.89 |
2.46 |
1.6 |
|
Meath |
349,017.00 |
0.00 |
349,017.00 |
1.08 |
1.74 |
*Figures for bóithre áise include expenditure on village renewal and bog roads
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:465 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason his Department has not continued to provide funding for undergrounding the ESB and the construction of new footpaths in Dingle town. [20225/04]
View answerPrimary responsibility for urban and village renewal in the Gaeltacht rests with the local authority as it does in the rest of the country. The aims of the urban and village renewal measure implemented by my Department in Gaeltacht areas are to provide financial support for a range of improvements to make these villages more attractive places in which to live and work, to encourage social and economic development, and to facilitate and support the development of tourism and tourism-related activity. This approach supplements the work of the local authority without displacing its responsibility.
A programme of works is agreed each year between my Department and the relevant local authority. A grant of 50% towards the cost of necessary works is normally made available for projects which are selected for funding under the scheme. Various criteria are taken into account in deciding on works to be funded, including the necessity of the works in question, strength of the Irish language in the area, cost of works involved; funding available to my Department under the scheme, and value for money.
In the past five years my Department and Kerry Council have spent approximately €565,460 on the specific project referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the overall scheme is almost completed, except for a section which runs from the library to Sráid na nGabhar — Tig de Rís.
Jerry Cowley
Question:466 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the withdrawal of the mobile banking service by certain banks from areas of the west, he has had negotiations with the credit union as promised regarding a further extension of their services to replace those removed by the withdrawal of the mobile bank service; the result of these negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20375/04]
View answerI refer to my replies to Questions Nos. 121 and 166 on 27 April 2004.
I confirm that there have been contacts with the Irish League of Credit Unions. I understand that a number of options have been discussed by the league including more sub-offices and a bill pay system. The Deputy will understand any such decisions will be a matter for the Irish League of Credit Unions.