Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the situation regarding the allocation of funds under the gateway innovation fund where the closing date for submission was November 2007 with a Cabinet decision expected on same before January 2008 and to date no decision has been made; if he will clarify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter indicating when a decision is expected to be made on the application by Galway City Council under the gateway innovation fund. [27875/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Following the Call for Proposals under the competitive €300 million Gateway Innovation Fund (GIF) which issued in June 2007, proposals from all nine National Spatial Strategy gateways, including Galway, were received by the closing date of 15 November 2007.

These proposals, seeking some €720 million in total funding under the GIF, were evaluated against the criteria set down in the Call for Proposals by the GIF Management Committee which consists of representatives of my Department and the Department of Finance (with appropriate input from other Departments and agencies as required). Goodbody Economic Consultants were commissioned to assist in the evaluation process.

Decisions on the projects to be approved under the GIF, and the timing of such approvals, will be taken by the Government on foot of proposals jointly made by the Minister for Finance and me. Such proposals will have regard to the overall capital funding position for 2008 and subsequent years.