Joe Walsh
Ceist:48 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Taoiseach if all the £1 million designated for the development of accéss to the offshore islands in 1996 will be allocated. [19083/96]
Written Answers. - Offshore Islands Access Projects.
On foot of recommendations made to date by the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, I have recently advised Galway, Mayo and Donegal county councils of funding for priority projects included in their programmes of work. Details of Cork County Council's priority access project are currently being assessed by the interdepartmental committee and I expect to be in a position shortly to confirm funding for this project also.
To date, a total of £242,250 has been made available to the relevant local authorities for access projects. A number of priority access projects are still under consideration and I hope to be able to announce further funding from the financial envelope shortly.
In addition, the local authorities have been asked to identify further access projects, which have been agreed by their islands committees but may not have been included in their programmes of work and which could be completed this year and would, therefore, be appropriate for consideration by the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee for funding this year.
Accordingly, it is not possible to estimate at this stage exactly how much of the £1 million, if any, will remain unallocated at the end of 1996.