The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O' Rourke, has rejected any suggestion that a planned national transport museum for Mullingar failed because she did not approve the plan on time.
Today's Westmeath Examiner reprints a memo from CIÉ to an official in Ms O'Rourke's Department in July 1999, outlining the board's approval of £4 million funding for the plan proposed by the Mullingar Arts and Railway Group.
"I understand that we need ministerial approval for these proposals. I would appreciate if we could have this," wrote the group's chief executive, the late Mr Michael McDonnell.
Ms O'Rourke's official replied to CIÉ, seeking more information on the plan.
A CIÉ spokesman told the Westmeath Examiner that the information had been supplied by CIÉ, but the board had never received a "definitive response from the Department".
The Mullingar Arts and Railway Group subsequently withdrew its application, claiming that the deadline for other EU funding would not be met, and in November 1999 the CIÉ board rescinded the funding.
Ms O'Rourke's spokesman said last night that at no stage did the Minister receive any formal proposal from CIÉ or from the Department.
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