Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when funding will be granted for a road (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19015/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for funding for the road referred to by the Deputy is currently being considered by my Department along with other applications under Scéim na mBóithre Áise 2008.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the criteria used in relation to assessing roads in the Gaeltacht area for funding; the person who assesses the roads for inclusion for grant funding; and the way they are assessed. [19016/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications received seeking funding for strategic roads in Gaeltacht areas in 2008; and the number of applications successful and the amount allocated on a county basis. [19017/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.

Applications under Scéim na mBóithre Áise (Gaeltacht Accommodation Roads Scheme) are assessed by officials of my Department and are approved for funding, having regard to the following criteria:

overall budget available;

necessity of work and value for money;

Irish language usage in the area;

geographical balance.

The objective of Scéim na mBóithre Straitéiseacha Gaeltachta (Gaeltacht Strategic Roads Scheme) is to ensure that the main road networks serving the Gaeltacht are of an acceptable standard. Roads chosen for inclusion under the scheme do not fall within the remit of the National Roads Authority and must be located in the Gaeltacht. At the beginning of each year, local authorities submit a costed works programme for the various Gaeltacht regions to my Department. These programmes are assessed by my officials, in consultation with officials from the local authorities as appropriate, and in line with criteria similar to that used for Scéim na mBóithre Áise.

In the period 2002-2007 over €51m has been provided by my Department for this scheme and a further allocation of €5.38m has recently been approved for 2008. A breakdown in regard to the amounts allocated on a county basis for 2008 is provided in the Table below.

In regard to County Mayo, I should clarify that it was agreed with Mayo County Council in 2007, at their request, that an increased allocation be approved for that year to enable the construction of a new bridge at Gob an Choire, Acaill, to proceed. As a result, a grant of €2m was approved to the Council in 2007 to cover the years 2007 and 2008.