Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if Mayo County Council's submission for funding under the EU co-financed specific improvement grant scheme included an application for works on a road (details supplied); if so, when the submission was made; the funding which will be provided to this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20550/06]

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

In 2005, my Department sought applications from local 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 local authorities. Mayo County Council's submission did not include an application for works on the R312 Bellacorrick to Castlebar Road. It will be open to the Council to prioritise works on this route for funding under the EU Co-Financed Specific Improvement Grant Scheme in 2007, if eligible, when applications are sought later this year by my Department.

Mayo County Council may also use the discretionary improvement grant provided by my Department towards the carrying out of such works. The discretionary improvement grant allocation to Mayo County Council in 2006 is €1,603,000, an increase of 7% on the 2005 initial allocation. The selection of works to be funded from this allocation is a matter for Mayo County Council.

I also refer to the reply to Question No. 997 of 25 April 2006.