Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans with his Department for the provision of a relief road for Thomastown in County Kilkenny. [11830/07]

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

In July last year local authorities were invited by my Department to submit applications for consideration for funding under the 2007 Specific Improvements Grant scheme. The initial selection of projects to be submitted under this scheme is a matter for local authorities. Kilkenny County Council submitted six applications for consideration. Three schemes prioritised by the Council received allocations, totalling €3,100,000, in 2007. The Council's application for funding for a relief road at Thomastown did not, however, receive an allocation.

My Department will again be seeking applications under the Specific Improvements Grant scheme later this year and it will be open to Kilkenny County Council to prioritise and submit an application for consideration for funding in 2008 under this scheme.