asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he received a request from Wicklow County Council for a grant to repair and steam-roll the Avoca-Redcross road; whether he is aware that the county council are prepared to defray half the cost of the work in question; whether he is aware that the proposal is based on the grounds that the road is urgently needed in the district and that there is a large number of unemployed men in the area concerned who cannot find other work although deprived of unemployment assistance by the operation of the Employment Period Orders and whether in the circumstances he is prepared to sanction the proposal of the county council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repairs to Avoca-Redcross Road.
The request referred to has been received by me. The works proposed are estimated to cost £4,000 and the county council propose to raise a loan of £2,000 to meet half of the cost. As, however, the county council are in financial difficulties owing to their failure to make adequate provision in their estimates, I am unable at present to entertain any proposals involving an increase in the council's loan indebtedness.