Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 24 October 2006, if he will apply to the EU Commission for state aid before the end of 2006 which will see the loss of Objective 1 Status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36466/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I stated in my reply to the Deputy on 24 October 2006 that consideration of the proposal to bring gas to Sligo from the Mayo-Galway pipeline is insufficiently mature at this stage to be able to submit a definitive position on possible State Aids implications of any funding configuration to the EU Commission. In this regard, I am awaiting the outcome of the feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis commissioned by my Department. A recent update from the Consultants engaged on this work indicates that their report is likely to be finalised before end of January 2007.