Vol. 399 No. 5
56 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Environment if the delay in receiving approval from the European Commission for the draft operational programme for road and transport infrastructure under the peripherality programme of the National Development Plan is retarding developments; and the value of these programmes.
There has been no avoidable delay in obtaining EC Commission approval for the operational programme on roads and other transport infrastructure. A revised programme was submitted to the EC Commission on 25 May and both the Commission and the Irish authorities aim to have it approved as quickly as possible.
All the road projects covered by the programme are fully funded by State road grants and none has been delayed pending its approval. I am informed by the Department of Tourism and Transport that no projects relating to State airports have been delayed and that further progress in relation to proposed public transport projects must await formal approval of the programme by the EC Commission. In so far as ports projects are concerned, I am informed by the Department of the Marine that while no definite starting date has been scheduled in respect of any project, it may be that the setting of such dates, in respect of a number of projects, is being postponed, pending approval of the programme.
Pending approval of the programme, it is not possible to indicate the value of the respective investments in roads, airports, ports and public transport.
