Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Roads Projects.

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

393 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the requests from Laois County Council in 2001 to transfer specific improvement grants under the non-national roads programme from one project to another project within the county in view of the fact that it was not possible to progress some of the individual projects in 2001; the reasons such requests were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7985/02]

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

394 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the procedures for an allocation under the specific improvement grant scheme for non-national roads to be transferred by a local authority from one project to another project within its area where it may not be possible to draw down the allocation in respect of an individual project; if these transfers are allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7986/02]

Sean Fleming

Ceist:

395 Mr. Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the rules and procedures where part of the grant allocated to a local authority under the specific improvement scheme for non-national roads, that is not drawn down by the relevant local authority within the timescale, may be forfeited and subsequently re-allocated to other local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7987/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 to 395, inclusive, together.

My Department's memorandum on grants for non-national roads stipulates that where the full road grant is unlikely to be expended by 30 September in the year of allocation, the Department should be notified as soon as possible and informed of the estimated shortfall. Any savings so advised will be reallocated at the Department's discretion to other eligible projects already put forward by the authority concerned or by another local authority, where the amount involved can be expended in the current year. While efforts will be made to compensate in subsequent years' allocations for any shortfall which may arise in any year for improvement schemes, no guarantee can be offered in this regard.

In 2001, my Department received one application from Laois County Council dated 1 November 2001 to make a number of transfers of EU co-financed specific improvement grants amounting to €77,448, £60,995. This application was approved by my Department on 9 November 2001.