William Cotter
Ceist:52 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if it is proposed to include the Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal as a project for funding under the EC Interreg Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal.
INTERREG is a Community initiative under the Structural Funds which is aimed at assisting border areas of the Community in overcoming their special development problems and at promoting cross-Border cooperation.
The Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal project is a joint Ireland/Northern Ireland project physically crossing the Border and would be an eligible project under the Commission's guidelines for operational programmes under the initiative.
Preparation of a joint Ireland-Northern Ireland programme under the initiative is at present at an advanced stage. The aims and objectives of the programme and the measures to be included in it will have to be agreed between the two administrations and subsequently with the EC Commission before the projects to be aided can be finally selected.