My Department has not reduced the allocation for the RTI. On the contrary €4.4 million was earmarked for the initiative in the national development plan. A sum of €6 million has already been provided for the initiative in the two year period ending December 2003. A further €3 million will be provided in 2004. Specific allocations for RTI projects are made from this funding by Area Development Management Limited. It manages the scheme on behalf of my Department.
I understand from ADM that the RTI funding allocation for 2002 and 2003 for Longford Community Resources Limited was €101,349. As the project could not roll-out its services in 2002 only a minimal amount of the funding was expended that year. As a result a disproportionate amount of the two year allocation of €93,652 was concentrated on 2003. The company was also allocated €6,720 arising from the extension of the free travel scheme to the RTI in 2003. The 2004 RTI allocation for Longford Community Resources Limited is €58,064 before any allocation in respect of the free travel scheme or funding that the project might acquire from other sources.
