Written answers

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Departmental Funding

3:00 pm

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications for funding received from Donegal County Council for refurbishment or new works on islands within the remit of the council for each of the past three years; the position of the applications; the amount of funding allocated; the number of applications still under consideration or refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35700/07]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications for funding that his Department has received from Mayo County Council for improvements to facilities within the local authority remit for islands within its control for each of the past three years; the number that have been successful; the amount of funding involved; the number refused or still being investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35701/07]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.

Firstly, I should explain to the Deputy that the normal procedure in relation to the matters raised by him is that proposals for island work programmes are discussed between my officials and officials of the relevant local authority in advance of a formal application for grant assistance being made. Accordingly, agreement is reached by consensus on annual programmes of island works on the basis of prioritisation and in the context of the overall budgetary provisions. Any projects that cannot be processed at a given time are kept under review. Total capital expenditure under the Islands subhead of my Department's Vote for the Donegal islands over the last 3 years was in excess of €1.1m, as shown in the following table:

200520062007*
€202,085€479,849€449,900
*Final end-year figure outstanding.

The works in question comprised a wide range of infrastructural works, including piers, helipad, coastal protection and roads, in addition to the provision of smoke alarms and safety equipment. In the case of the Mayo islands, the total capital expenditure over the last 3 years was in excess of €4.4m, as shown in the following table:

200520062007*
€2,948,832€1,397,557€73,800
*Final end-year figure outstanding.

The works in question comprised major pier developments on Inishturk and Clare Island, in addition to other infrastructural works, such as roads and slipways. The Deputy may wish to note that my Department also provides funding for islands under various other subheads and programmes, including, for example, CLÁR, the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme, as well as a range of Gaeltacht schemes in the case of islands located in the Gaeltacht. If the Deputy requires further information in relation to any specific island or project, I will, of course, be happy to assist.

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