Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 668: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if further consideration has been given by his Department to the submission from a group (details supplied) seeking the re-opening of the Mullingar to Athlone railway link, which links two gateway towns in the context of the National Spatial Strategy; when the gateway infrastructure fund as spelled out by the Minister for Finance in the National Development Plan will be available for distribution to the local council in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12870/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the Department of Finance are currently working up the terms of the operational framework for the Gateway Innovation Fund, which has been established under the National Development Plan 2007-2013 to help fund targeted strategic investments that can trigger the accelerated development of the Gateways and their wider regions.

When the qualifying and assessment criteria have been finalised, and disseminated to gateway authorities over the coming weeks, the Department will then invite the lead local authorities to bid on a competitive and "added-value" basis on behalf of each of the Gateways. A significant element of co-funding will also be required to be provided locally. When the call for proposals is made later this year, the lead local authority for the Midland gateway will be able to submit their formal proposal, on behalf of all authorities in the gateway, at that time for consideration.