Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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197. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person-body who comprised the special assessment team established to examine applications for greenway funding selected in May 2014; the number of applications there were; the way these were marked; the mark that each received; the reason three of the top four recommended applications were not selected; the reason of the eleven that received funding only one of these was in the recommended top ten; if he will provide all other detail surrounding this issue; and if this decision may be reversed. [46630/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department held a funding call in respect of the Local Authority National Cycle Network Funding Programme 2014 to 2016 in September 2013.  Successful projects under this Programme were announced in April 2014.  The team that was established to assess the proposals comprised officials from the Sustainable Transport Division of my Department, the National Trails Office (Irish Sports Council), Fáilte Ireland and the National Transport Authority.

38 applications were received from 28 local authorities.

A scoring matrix was developed to objectively assess and shortlist projects relative to a set criteria outlined in the funding call.  Arising from this first phase of the assessment process, 10 proposals were shortlisted in December 2013. 

In order to fully appraise the shortlisted projects, site visits were undertaken by members of the above team.  The site visits helped to better inform the assessment process and the recommendations for funding were subsequently provided to the then Minister for Public and Commuter Transport.  The projects selected for funding under the NCN Programme were as recommended by the NCN Assessment Team.

The projects selected separately in May 2014 were funded from the Government’s Infrastructure Stimulus Package.  These projects were selected by the Minister for Public and Commuter Transport on the basis of ability to deliver infrastructure within a relatively short timeframe, thereby maximising the stimulus effect in line with decisions made for the rest of the stimulus package.

The 11 proposals which received funding under the Stimulus Package are currently at various stages of planning, design and construction and my Department is keeping all projects under review.

Full details of the assessment and marking process in relation to the selection of projects funded under the NCN Funding Programme 2012-2014 are in the public domain following disclosure under a recent FOI request and can be viewed on the Department's website or on the Smarter Travel website .