Vol. 401 No. 4
263 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Transport and Tourism the decisions which have been made by the Council of EC Ministers on the establishment of an EC transport infrastructure Fund; the total amount of the fund; the application which has been made to the fund by his Department for money to develop the Dublin-Belfast rail link; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The EC Transport Council, at its meeting in Luxembourg on 18/19 June reached broad agreement, in principle, on the granting of financial support for transport infrastructure projects in the Community under a three year action programme and instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to prepare the necessary Regulation with a view to its adoption at the next formal meeting of the Council of Ministers (Transport). The total expenditure proposed over the three year period is approximately £250 million. This figure is, however, still subject to agreement by the Council of Ministers.
At the Council meeting in June, Ireland proposed the Dublin/Belfast railway line as a project for assistance from the proposed transport infrastructure fund. I have also made separate representations to the Commissioner for Transport on the importance which the Irish authorities attach to this project and on our desire to have it assisted from the Infrastructure Fund.
