Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005
468 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Westmeath County Council has applied for substantial funding for the improvement of the R390 at Walderstown, Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/05]
View answerThe improvement of non-national roads in County Westmeath is a matter for Westmeath County Council. Such schemes are funded from the authority's resources supplemented by grants from my Department.
In 2004, my Department sought applications from road authorities for funding under the 2005 EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme. While Westmeath County Council's application included an application for funding of €100,000 in respect of improvement works to the R390 at Walderstown, Athlone, this project was not among the projects selected for funding in 2005. In this regard it should be noted that five of the eight schemes submitted by the council received an allocation in 2005. 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 2005.
My Department will again be seeking applications under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme later this year and it will be open to the council to submit a funding application for consideration under this scheme in 2006.
