§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the previous Aghalane Bridge was destroyed; and what was the purpose of destroying it. [78271]
§ Mr. IngramAghalane Bridge was destroyed in an explosion on 21 November 1972 by a person or persons unknown, but believed to have been a Loyalist paramilitary group.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the projected cost for the reconstruction of the Aghalane Bridge; what proportion of the bridge is in Northern Ireland; and what are the respective shares of the total cost of reinstatement to be borne by British and Irish Republic public funds. [78274]
§ Mr. IngramThe projected cost of the contract for the reconstruction of Aghalane Bridge is expected to be £862,000. The British Government are bearing the full cost of the reconstructed bridge and have received £500,000 grant aid from the European Regional Development Fund, Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
In addition to the projected cost of £862,000, the scheme to reconstruct the bridge has attracted additional costs arising out from the geotechnical investigation, consultant's fees and laboratory charges, which are estimated to amount to £45,000. These costs have been included as part of the road-works for the northern approach to the bridge.
The reconstructed bridge is 30 metres long, 15 metres of which is on the Northern Ireland side of the border.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the cost of approach roadworks relating to the Aghalane Bridge reconstruction for each year since preparations commenced; and to what594W extent approach works in the Irish Republic have been (a) managed, (b) paid for and (c) subsidised by the Department of the Environment (NI). [78273]
§ Mr. IngramDEO(NI) Roads Service has been involved only in the construction of the Northern approach to the bridge, including such work on the Southern side of the Woodford River as was necessary to construct the bridge. To date, the cost of these roadworks is estimated to be £1,930,720, including a projected expenditure of £292,152 in the coming financial year. In addition to the construction costs, this estimate includes the cost of geotechnical investigations, consultant's fees and laboratory charges, as well as an allowance for land acquisition and landscaping.
Roads Service expect to receive a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, to the value of £1,061,250.
The costs each year are as follows:
Year Expenditure (£) 1995–96 2,777 1996–97 20,025 1997–98 543,955 1998–99 1,071,811 1999–2000 1292,152 Total 11,930,720 1 Projected Apart from the works necessary to construct the bridge, indicated above, Roads Service have not managed, paid for or subsidised any of the approach works in the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorist attacks took place on civilians on the road between Aghalane Bridge and Teemore Cross(a) prior to and (b) after the destruction of the previous bridge; if she will give details of the deaths and injuries inflicted; and what was the total compensation paid by the Northern Ireland Office as a result. [78272]
§ Mr. IngramRUC records indicate that one terrorist incident took place in that immediate area, the murder of Thomas (part-time UDR) and Emily Bullock at their home at Killynick on 21 September 1972. The Northern Ireland Office did receive claims, which I understand were later withdrawn.