§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what priority is being given to(a) upgrading the Larne to Belfast road and (b) submitting an application to the European Commission for funding improved transport links between Northern Ireland and Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewThe Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland recognises the importance of the A8 Larne to Belfast road and a £2.5 million scheme to convert a further section of the road to dual carriageway has been included in the current five-year major road works programme.
Under the Northern Ireland transportation programme 1989–93 the European Commission has made available some £120 million European regional development fund grant to support transport infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland. Of this amount £4.4 million is being allocated in respect of a number of projects at the port of Larne from which there are direct shipping services to Ardrossan, Cairnryan and Stranraer. In addition the port of Belfast has been allocated £0.75 million grant towards the provision of facilities to accommodate the Seacat service to Stranraer. Belfast city and Belfast international airports, which provide services to Scottish airports, have both received grant support under the transportation programme for a range of projects.
It is expected that the present transportation programme will continue under the next round of funding post-1993, and will form an important part of the draft community support framework for Northern Ireland to be submitted to Brussels later this year.