Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1917: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if funding will be provided for a road (details supplied) in County Mayo when the submission is received from the local authority. [3124/07]

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 State grants provided by my Department. I announced the 2007 non-national road grant allocations on 18 January 2007. Grants totalling €27,274,625 were allocated to Mayo County Council, representing an increase of 12% on the 2006 initial allocation to the Council.

In 2006, my Department sought applications from local authorities for consideration for funding under the 2007 Specific Improvements Grant scheme. The initial selection of projects under this scheme is a matter for local authorities. Mayo County Council submitted 9 applications, all of which received an allocation in 2007. The Council's submission did not, however, include an application for works on the R312 between Castlebar and Erris.

Mayo County Council may also use the discretionary improvement grant provided by my Department towards the carrying out of such works. In 2007 the discretionary improvement grant allocation to Mayo County Council is €1,651,000, an increase of 3% on the 2006 initial allocation to the Council. The selection of works to be funded from this allocation is a matter for Mayo County Council.