Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Roads Projects.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

379 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason his Department failed to provide funding under the CLÁR programme, for road improvements in the designated areas in County Westmeath; if an application was made for such funding; the reason an area in County Westmeath was excluded from such funding; if the areas selected in County Westmeath were the only ones, which did not receive a special allocation from his Department under this particular programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2868/02]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

There have been no payments under the CLÁR programme since its launch in October 2001 in respect of road improvements or otherwise. I assume the Deputy refers to the recent announcement by my col league, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, of details of the non-national road grant allocations for 2002 which included funding under the EU co-financed specific improvement grants scheme. All applications submitted under this scheme are considered by the Department of the Environment and Local Government having regard to compliance with the eligibility criteria, the need to prioritise projects, competing demands from other local authorities and the funds available for the scheme in 2002. It is understood that a total of 1.93 million has been allocated to Westmeath County Council under this scheme in 2002. None of the five projects selected for funding this year is within the CLÁR area.