Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a request for €1.685 million by a working group (details supplied) in County Mayo; the position regarding same; if consideration will be given to this package; and when the necessary funding will be supplied. [28554/04]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Mayo County Council has submitted the final report of the Pollathomas implementation working group, together with the relevant reports prepared by their consultants, to my Department. The report estimates the cost of outstanding work at €1.685 million.

In 2003 and 2004, my Department allocated two grants, totalling €2,030,500, to Mayo County Council for immediate remedial works and for the improvement, repair and protection of roads and bridges in the area affected by the landslide. In addition, Mayo County Council received a 17.5% increase in its general purpose grant from the local government fund in 2004, and was advised that this significantly increased grant could be used to contribute to the carrying out of works considered necessary by the council to prevent a recurrence of the landslide.

The report now submitted acknowledges that the work carried out to date in partnership between Mayo County Council, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Office of Public Works and my Department has resulted in substantial progress in dealing with the aftermath of the landslides in September 2003. Mayo County Council has recommended that a continuing partnership approach between these four bodies is the appropriate way forward. The report and the county council's proposed future approach now fall to be considered by these bodies.