Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the projects that were targeted in the last National Development Plan in County Wexford; the breakdown of each one completed or the stage that each project is at; the overspend envisaged and an explanation for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3138/07]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the investments outlined in the last National Development Plan in County Wexford; the plans and investments that have been completed, that are on-going or did not progress from planning stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3152/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Development Plan (NDP) 2000-2006 constituted a programme setting out the Government's broad strategic response to the State's economic and social development needs for the seven-year period in question, and that it did not set out specific project commitments.

My Department was involved in four Operational Programmes under the NDP 2000-2006, as follows:

the Productive Sector Operational Programme;

the Employment and Human Resources Development Operational Programme;

the Border, Midland and Western Regional Operational Programme; and

the Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme.

Assistance was provided under these Programmes across a range of measures in relation to

the Gaeltacht, in terms of finance for industry, building construction, sectoral training, road improvements and harbour improvements;

urban and village renewal;

inland waterways development;

rural development, in the context of the Area Based Rural Development Initiative, the Rural Development Fund, Farm Relief Services and the Western Development Fund;

the development of disadvantaged communities through the Community Development Programme;

the promotion of local action plans to promote social inclusion under the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme; and

the National Drugs Strategy.

While my Department had no direct responsibility for any major infrastructural investments or projects in Co. Wexford under the NDP 2000-2006, funding has been made available to local groups in the county during the period of the National Development Plan under a number of programmes operated in the Southern & Eastern Region by my Department, including:

€13.15m under the Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme provided to the Wexford Area Partnership (€5.684m) and Wexford County Partnership (€7.466m).

€1.208m under the National Rural Development Programme to the Wexford Organisation for Rural Development.

€4.031m under the Community Development Programme to six groups in Co. Wexford ACCESS 2000 Wexford (€0.668m), FAB Coolcotts (€0.758m), New Ross CDP (€0.466m), South West Wexford CDP (€0.994m), Templeshannon CDP (€0.857m), and Wolfe Tone Women's Group (€0.290m).

The Deputy will appreciate that, due to the diverse nature of the projects supported under these programmes, it would not be possible, in the time available, to provide details in respect of individual projects. If the Deputy has specific queries in relation to any particular case, however, I will be happy to arrange for relevant information to be provided to him.