Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding he allocated to the Greystones marine project; and what this funding is for. [9805/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The local authority PPP fund was established on 1 December 1999 to provide funding to local authorities to enable them to investigate the potential for, and promote, PPP projects outside the Department's mainstream investment programmes. Eligible expenditure by local authorities included feasibility studies, planning and design costs, the presentation of business plans, procurement costs and independent specialist advice on private sector proposals.

The fund closed to new applications on 31 December 2004. In the period 1999-2004 my Department sought grant applications on a number of occasions from local authorities. Assessment of grant applications took account of: the importance of the services or assets provided for the community; commercial viability; value for money; innovation; and replicability.

Funding of €545,987 was awarded to Wicklow County Council in June 2000 for the appointment of a client's representative to advance an integrated and comprehensive harbour-marina-coastal erosion protection related development including leisure, amenity and open space facilities and residential units at Greystones Harbour and north beach. The significant product from this phase of the project was a feasibility study.

In December 2004 further funding of €375,000 was awarded to Wicklow County Council for the project. This related to retention of the client's representative to consider the bids received from the public tendering process, preparation of procurement documentation including contract, bidder meetings, bid evaluation and evaluation reporting, and preparation of EIS and planning permission application.