asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the very urgent need for a railway tunnel at Pill Road, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, to ensure the safety of the school children attending the Christian Brothers secondary school; and if he will submit an application, on the school's behalf, for financial assistance from the EEC Regional Fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Carrick-on-Suir (Tipperary) Railway Tunnel.
6.
I understand that the road authority, Carrick-on-Suir Urban District Council, are actively engaged in seeking a solution to the problem mentioned by the Deputy. In the absence of a proposal from the council, I am not in a position to give any indication whether special financial assistance might be made available to the council.
As regards the question of aid from the EEC Regional Fund, the Minister for Finance can only submit proposals for grant assistance from the fund for schemes which are already in receipt of national aid. The Deputy will note that grants from the fund are not paid directly to the road authority undertaking the schemes, but instead, are paid into the Exchequer.
The urban district council together with the parents and teachers have expressed grave concern regarding the safety of the school children. With all the goodwill possible to do something to alleviate the position, the money is not available to the council to take action. The same applies so far as the county council are concerned. In these circumstances will the Minister give an undertaking that the finance will come from the national coffers?
I have no proposals from Carrick-on-Suir UDC and in the absence of such proposals I am unable to say what assistance would be made available. However, I can assure the Deputy that any such proposals would be sympathetically considered.
Will the Minister of State tell the House if he has had any correspondence from Carrick-on-Suir UDC on this matter?
No.