Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 6

Written Answers. - Lucan Demense.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

234 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the amounts spent to date on Lucan Demesne in respect of the development plan grants scheme; if the full funding scheme totalling ?4,760,000 over five years 2001 to 2005, remains in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26852/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 186 and 187 of 5 December 2002. My Department is currently processing an application on behalf of the three local authorities involved for reimbursement of expenditure to date under the agreed management plan for Lucan Demesne. It is envisaged that this examination will be completed this week and that a payment of at least €750,000 will be issued before the end of the year.

As stated in the aforementioned reply, a budget of €952,000 per annum over a period of five years has been agreed in principle for the implementation of the management plan. Disbursements from this allocation will be made in accordance with the progress of measures under the plan.

While my Department had received sanction from the Department of Finance in January 2000 for funding totalling €4.76 million under the current national development plan the extent to which it will be possible to release this funding will depend on the necessary funding being made available to my Department. An application has been made to the Department of Finance to reschedule this funding.