Road Network.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2009

Thursday, 3 December 2009

Ceisteanna (153, 154)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

153 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport if he has provided funding to a road project (details supplied) since the concept of the road was determined; the funding allocated; the amount in each year; if funding was drawn from a EU source for this project; if agreement was sought from him or his Department by the local authority regarding security or permission to secure or draw down loans or funding in relation to the project; if permission had to be granted by him or his Department for the development of the road; the cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45178/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey)

The Department paid Kildare County Council €17,840,661 in respect of the Naas Southern Ring Road in the years 2001 to 2008 and allocated €3,680,183 for this project in 2009. A breakdown of that funding is set out in the following table.

Table

Year	€
2001	9,142
2002	460,319
2003	541,700
2004	463,624
2005	2,664,655
2006	1,585,884
2007	2,115,337
2008	10,000,000
2009 Allocation*	3,680,183

The project had expenditure of €882,613 eligible for 50% EU co-financing under the Non-National Roads Measure of the Southern and Eastern Regional Operational Programme 2000– 2006. The EU grant aid accrued directly to the Exchequer, the local authority having received this aid through State road grants.

Earlier this year my Department approved a loan application from Naas Town Council. The approval allows the Council to seek a loan of €8 million to progress the regional and local road element of the Naas Ring Roads, of which the Naas Southern Ring Road is a part.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

154 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Transport if his Department or the National Roads Authority has provided funding to a road project (details supplied) since the concept of the road was determined; the funding allocated; the amount in each year; if funding was drawn from an EU source regarding the project; if agreement was sought from him or his Department by the local authority regarding security or permission to secure or draw down loans or funding in relation to the project; if permission had to be granted by him or his Department for the development of the road; if so, the cost of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45181/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey)

Kildare County Council has applied to my Department for funding for the Athy Southern Relief Road under the Department's regional and local road strategic grants scheme. All applications received for funding under the scheme will be considered, having regard to compliance with eligibility criteria, the need to prioritise projects, competing demands from other local authorities and the funds available for the scheme in 2010. The 2010 regional and local road grant allocations will be announced early next year.