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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 5

Written Answers. - Capital Funding.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

54 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the allocation of capital funding from her Department to be made to the Waterford constituency in the year 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24771/99]

In the Estimates for next year, my Department is providing Iarnród Éireann with £100 million for rail safety investment under the Railway Safety Programme 1999-2003. Under the programme, the work is being carried out in a systematic way in line with the recommendations contained in the IRMS rail safety study. Thus, while an amount of the investment will be made in the Waterford area the funding is not being allocated on a county by county basis and I cannot provide the Deputy with a precise figure at this stage.

In addition, my Department will provide a capital grant of £45 million for a public transport investment programme to be carried out by the three CIE operating subsidiaries in 2000. While Waterford will undoubtedly benefit from this programme, the details of expenditure under the programme have not yet been settled.

The sum of £10 million is being allocated to the regional airports under the national development plan 2000-2006. While funding has not been specifically earmarked for any individual airport at this stage, my Department will, over the coming months, be examining the proposals from each of the airports, including Waterford, with a view to prioritising investment needs over the period 2000-06.

This examination will entail seeking and evaluating the detailed plans which the regional airport companies have for improvements which are deemed necessary to ensure the safe and viable operation of the airports. Decisions will only be taken in relation to the disbursement of funds in the national development plan after that exercise is complete.
Under the economic infrastructure operational programme, IR£118,135 has been allocated to Waterford Internet Centre Limited for investment in e-kiosks in the south east and a further IR£103,400 has been allocated to Eircom for the development of a broadband network between Ardmore, County Waterford and Youghal, County Cork as part of a broadband access project. Both of these projects are due for completion during 2000.
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