Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 1454: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding will be made available to allow refurbishment works to begin on the Fingal Arts Centre in Rush, North County Dublin, to establish the much needed library in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1005/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In January 2004, local authorities were asked to review their capital programmes for library development and to submit a prioritised list of proposals which they wished to have considered by my Department in its review of the programme. In its submission, Fingal County Council listed Rush as joint third.

In October last year, I announced funding for 13 library projects. Due to the existing level of commitments under the public library capital programme, it was not possible to provide funding for this project at that time. This position will be kept under review in the light of capital available for the library programme.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 1455: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide funding for a river management project in the Shannon Basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1009/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is providing full funding, at an approved cost of €7.8 million, for the Shannon River basin district project. This commenced in November 2002 and is led jointly by Limerick County Council, Clare County Council and Roscommon County Council on behalf of the 18 participating local authorities in the Shannon River basin district. It is one of several projects established by local authorities and other agencies to support implementation of the EU water framework directive.

The completion date for the Shannon River basin district project is December 2006. A proposal has been received by my Department from Limerick County Council for an expansion of the terms of reference of the project, at an estimated cost of €2.5 million, including an extension of its timeframe to 2008. The proposal is under consideration by my Department.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 1456: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date in the provision of funding by each department for the Drogheda Northern Cross Route (details supplied); the nature of meetings held and with whom; the submissions received from Louth local authorities, Drogheda Port Company and any other body or organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1023/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The provision and improvement of non-national roads in County Louth is a matter for Louth County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants.

In March 2005, Louth County Council submitted an outline proposal to my Department as regards a Drogheda Northern Cross port access route. That document identified a number of possible sources of funding but provided no details. The council was asked in May 2005 to submit an indicative breakdown of the likely funding from the different sources and that information is awaited in my Department. Apart from informal contacts with Louth County Council, the Department has not engaged in any meetings regarding the proposal.

In August 2005, the Department sought applications from road authorities for funding under the 2006 EU co-financed specific improvements grant scheme. The initial selection of projects to be submitted for consideration for funding under this scheme is a matter for road authorities. Louth County Council submitted a number of applications but these did not include an application for funding for the Drogheda Northern Cross port access route.