Vol. 460 No. 7
17 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach the reason he did not sanction the grant of £120,000 sought by Galway Corporation to facilitate the construction of a proposed Enterprise Centre at Westside where unemployment is running at 60 per cent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1789/96]
I approved a payment of a grant of £40,000 to Galway Corporation for the Westside Community project in 1995 under the special local development grants scheme.
Priority in the allocation of grants was given to those areas not in receipt of the Urban Initiative, Leader or similar direct financial assistance. Unfortunately, due to the limited funds available and the large number of applications, it was not possible to allocate the maximum funding requested by any organisation. This is in no way a reflection on the merits of the particular projects.
However, I should point out that financial assistance for local development is available from a range of schemes operated under the aegis of my Department.
The Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development 1994-99 has total funding available, through ADM, for partnership companies in 35 designated disadvantaged areas, and for other community groups, totalling £104 million approximately. The Galway City partnership are currently engaged in a consultation process in the preparation of their local development plan and this process should include Westside Community project.
Support for country enterprise boards, under the programme over the same period, will amount to £18 million approximately. Since its start up in October 1993, Galway City and Country Enterprise Board has drawn down a total of approximately £2.6 million. In 1995 alone, £750,000 was drawn down. Support for urban and village renewal, as part of the Local Development Programme, will amount to £102 million approximately. These programmes offer significant support for local enterprise.
