Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 9

Written Answers. - County Kildare Improvement Works.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

160 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment whether he has received a submission from Kildare County Council for improvement works at Shaw Bridge, Kilcock, on the N4, County Kildare; if so, when his Department received the submission; the estimated cost of the proposed works; if he intends to allocate specific funds for this purpose at any time in the future; the extent, if any, to which he will grant-aid such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1304/94]

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

As Shaw Bridge is located on a regional road, responsibility for its maintenance and for any necessary improvement works is a matter for Kildare County Council using its own resources, supplemented by the discretionary State grants allocated to the council. These grants amount to £1.893 million in 1994.

I understand that Kildare County Council first sought a special grant in respect of Shaw Bridge as part of a general submission on bridge works which was made to my Department in 1985. Due to the limited provision for such grants, and the competing demands from other projects, it was not possible to make an allocation for improvement works to the bridge in the intervening years. However, a special grant of £17,500 was paid to the council in 1988 for site investigations and the preparation of a preliminary report, but without commitment to further funding.

The practice of providing special grants has been discontinued with effect from 1 January, 1994, and support for non-national roads is now made available to local authorities by way of discretionary grants and by way of specific grants under a new EU co-financed scheme for improvement works which are important for employment or which promote economic activity. Kildare County Council's initial submission for EU co-financed grants for specific improvement works which was made on 25 February, 1994, related to 18 projects, including Shaw Bridge. As the total cost of these projects (£18.7 million) was excessive, compared with the guideline amount previously indicated, the council's submission was returned for amendment. Subsequently, the council sought specific grants for five projects; Shaw Bridge was not included.

It is open to Kildare County Council to consider whether to apply for funding in 1995 under the specific improvements grants scheme for Shaw Bridge having regard to the conditions governing the scheme. I understand that the estimated cost of improvements to the bridge is £800,000.