Mr. Tony Smyth:

We set the limit at €500,000 because we believe engineering works costing more than that would certainly have environmental impact and should have proper environmental and cost-benefit studies carried out. The benefit of the minor works is that we have developed simplified criteria for the cost-benefit analysis to ensure we are getting benefit for the cost but without having to go to the rigours and expense of a full cost-benefit analysis as we do for the major schemes. It might run to €10,000, €20,000 or €30,000 to complete a full cost-benefit analysis. In cases where the works will cost €50,000, it does not make sense to spend that kind of money on studies.