Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2007
1819 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 182 of 27 April 2006, if he will meet a delegation from Roscommon, Sligo and Mayo County Councils regarding their proposals for the R294 which was submitted to his Department; if he will approve funding for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1174/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2005, Sligo County Council submitted to my Department a copy of a report prepared jointly by Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon County Councils regarding the condition of the R294 between Ballina and Boyle. The report proposed a number of both short and long term improvement works to the route. My Department responded that it would be open to the relevant county councils to include the short term Restoration Improvement Works in their Restoration Programmes for 2006 onwards. In addition, it would be open to the councils to prioritise appropriate works on this route for funding under the Specific Improvements Grant Scheme in subsequent years.
In June 2005 local authorities were invited to submit proposals to my Department for inclusion in the 2006 to 2008 Restoration Improvement Programme. Sligo County Council has included three schemes on the R294 under its Restoration Improvement Programme for 2007. This year the Council has received Restoration Improvement grant allocations totalling €234,179 for works on these three schemes at Lough Talt, Knockalass and Rathscanlon. Roscommon County Council has included one scheme on the R294, for works at Tinacarra-Drumanone, under its 2007 Restoration Improvement Programme, for which it has received a grant allocation of €60,000 this year.
In August 2006, local authorities were invited to submit applications for consideration for funding under the 2007 Specific Improvements Grant scheme. Under the 2007 Specific Improvements Grant Scheme Sligo County Council has been allocated a grant of €366,000 for improvement works on the R294 at Mullaghroe. This was the only application for the R294 submitted to my Department by any of the three councils for consideration for funding in 2007 under the scheme.
My Department will again be seeking applications under the Specific Improvements Grant scheme later this year and it will be open to Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon County Councils to submit applications for consideration for further funding under this scheme in 2008. Further meetings on this matter are not planned at present.
