Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 8

Written Answers. - European Funding.

Gerard C. Connolly

Ceist:

28 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when the competition for the ownership and building of Europeat 1 will be announced in view of the necessity to have EU funding drawn down by 1999 and in view of the vast amount of work which has to be completed in the meantime. [11830/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The competition to build, own and operate the new peat fired electricity generating station — to be located in the East-Mid-lands region — was approved by the Government on 5 September last.

The power procurer hopes to be in a position to formally announce the competition in the Official Journal of the EU later this month, with a view to evaluating the proposals, deciding on a winner and awarding the contract before the end of 1996.

I do not foresee any problems in drawing down the European funding — amounting to £21 million — for this project, and I am satisfied that everything possible to facilitate a smooth and speedy process is being done.