Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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751. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the interaction his Department has had to date with Westmeath County Council on financing a project (details supplied); if he expects a positive outcome from these talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32243/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Westmeath County Council submitted an application to my Department for Ministerial sanction to raise borrowings for the development of a leisure facility at Robinstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.  

In accordance with section 106 of the Local Government Act 2001, loan sanction must be approved by the appropriate Minister, which is the Minister responsible for that particular policy area. In this instance, responsibility for issuing the loan sanction will fall to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

My Department is liaising with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in respect of this application. My Department’s role in the sanctioning process is to provide the sanctioning Department with observations on the suitability of sanctioning the loan both from a General Government Balance and a financial and affordability perspective. In reviewing requests for sanction, consideration is given to ensuring that priority infrastructural investment, contractual commitments and on-going projects can proceed.