asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money which has been made available to each county for the year and the two preceding years (a) for amenity schemes and (b) for local improvement schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amenity and Local Improvement Schemes.
17.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
(a) Amenity Schemes.
|
County (including Urban Districts) |
1971-72 |
1972-73 (including supplementary Allocation) |
1973-74 |
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Carlow |
— |
1,000 |
3,839 |
|
Cavan |
1,957 |
12,463 |
7,000 |
|
Clare |
3,935 |
17,550 |
8,300 |
|
Cork |
1,855 |
32,737 |
11,500 |
|
Donegal |
8,064 |
23,772 |
9,000 |
|
Dublin |
225 |
— |
— |
|
Galway |
2,956 |
49,000 |
13,000 |
|
Kerry |
3,281 |
26,000 |
14,000 |
|
Kildare |
— |
9,721 |
6,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
— |
9,000 |
6,500 |
|
Laois |
— |
7,000 |
4,000 |
|
Leitrim |
— |
14,000 |
6,000 |
|
Limerick |
4,350 |
20,000 |
8,000 |
|
Longford |
450 |
12,875 |
7,000 |
|
Louth |
1,283 |
12,365 |
7,365 |
|
Mayo |
2,659 |
31,000 |
11,000 |
|
Meath |
— |
8,100 |
7,000 |
|
Monaghan |
— |
12,700 |
8,000 |
|
Offaly |
1,216 |
13,750 |
6,000 |
|
Roscommon |
252 |
10,000 |
6,000 |
|
Sligo |
3,250 |
6,733 |
6,500 |
|
Tipperary (N.R.) |
310 |
12,958 |
5,000 |
|
Tipperary (S.R.) |
62 |
15,467 |
10,000 |
|
Waterford |
2,883 |
7,243 |
5,000 |
|
Westmeath |
1,971 |
15,000 |
6,500 |
|
Wexford |
2,672 |
6,740 |
8,500 |
|
Wicklow |
224 |
30,700 |
10,000 |
1. The figures for 1971-72 relate to payments made in that year. The old amenity grant scheme was reviewed in 1971 and the new scheme was introduced in April 1972. Allocations made in 1971-72 related to outstanding commitments only and new applications were not considered. The figures include amounts paid to voluntary organisations.
2. The allocations for 1972-73 include a supplementary allocation of £165,000 made in December, 1972. The Minister for Finance at the time made it a condition of this supplementary allocation that there would be a corresponding reduction in the budgetary provision for the scheme in 1973-74.
3. Figures for Galway and Wicklow for 1972-73 include special grants of £25,000 for the development of land for recreational purposes associated with major housing developments at Newcastle, Galway, and £15,000 for the acquisition of sand dunes and development works at Brittas Bay, County Wicklow.
(b) Local Improvement Schemes.
Allocations 1971-72—1973-74.
|
County Council |
Allocations |
||
|
1971-72 |
1972-73 |
1973-74 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Carlow |
7,000 |
5,000 |
5,000 |
|
Cavan |
82,000 |
78,000 |
88,000 |
|
Clare |
58,000 |
51,000 |
45,000 |
|
Cork |
62,500 |
67,000 |
77,000 |
|
Donegal |
120,500 |
107,000 |
110,000 |
|
Dublin |
5,000 |
— |
5,000 |
|
Galway |
154,000 |
135,000 |
110,000 |
|
Kerry |
125,000 |
104,500 |
110,000 |
|
Kildare |
11,000 |
4,000 |
5,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
6,000 |
5,000 |
6,000 |
|
Laoighis |
22,000 |
15,000 |
15,000 |
|
Leitrim |
98,000 |
95,500 |
100,000 |
|
Limerick |
19,000 |
12,000 |
12,000 |
|
Longford |
36,500 |
26,000 |
25,000 |
|
Louth |
12,500 |
8,000 |
10,000 |
|
Mayo |
142,000 |
133,000 |
120,000 |
|
Meath |
6,000 |
2,000 |
5,000 |
|
Monaghan |
34,500 |
26,000 |
30,000 |
|
Offaly |
16,000 |
18,000 |
20,000 |
|
Roscommon |
42,000 |
29,500 |
26,000 |
|
Sligo |
38,000 |
31,500 |
30,000 |
|
Tipperary (N.R.) |
13,000 |
8,000 |
8,000 |
|
Tipperary (S.R.) |
6,000 |
6,000 |
5,000 |
|
Waterford |
8,000 |
9,000 |
10,000 |
|
Westmeath |
8,000 |
6,000 |
5,000 |
|
Wexford |
6,000 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
|
Wicklow |
6,000 |
8,000 |
8,000 |
Is the Minister aware that, unless there is a substantial increase in the amount of money made available for these improvement scheme grants, as there is a backlog at the moment of five years in most counties it will take five years to do the amount of work for which there are applications?
I am aware that last year there was six years and all my predecessor could get was £240,000. He got £165,000 on condition in writing from the Minister for Finance that it would be taken out of this year's Estimate.
Do not be childish.
Do not try to pull a fast one.
The question I asked the Minister has nothing to do with last year. I am talking about the current year and the years to come. Unless there is money provided there is a backlog of applications that will not be dealt with for six years.
I would advise the Deputy that the Minister's Estimate is in the House and may be debated in full. All Deputies will be afforded an opportunity of speaking on it.
Due to the disgraceful way in which the previous Government dealt with these matters——
The Minister halved the amount divided last year.
——We will have to increase the amount, I am sure.