asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state whether he is aware that the sum of £1,079,000 was paid into the Road Fund for the year ended 31st March, 1937, and that it is officially estimated that the sum of £1,100,000 will be paid into that fund for the year ended March, 1938; and if he will state why, in these circumstances, it is intended not to allocate from the fund to local authorities during the current financial year a sum of more than £800,000; and if he will state how it is intended to dispose of the remaining sum of more than £200,000.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Fund Allocation.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
There are charges on the income of the Road Fund for the repayment of advances to the fund under the Road Fund (Advances) Act, 1926, to finance the national trunk roads scheme, and for the purposes of Section 18 of the Finance Act, 1937. These charges amount to approximately £300,000.
Are we to understand that, with the exception of those statutory charges, the entire amount of the Road Fund is being passed on to the local authorities?
There are some other minor charges as well, such as £8,250 by way of contribution towards surveyors' salaries, and £10,000 to the Gárda Síochána under the Road Traffic Act.
Mr. Morrissey
How much of the £300,000, if any, goes towards the repayment of the £1,000,000 borrowed from the Road Fund a few years ago?
Over £200,000.
In what year was that £1,000,000 borrowed?
In 1926.
Mr. Morrissey
Was there no subsequent borrowing from the Road Fund?
There were some borrowings, but I cannot remember the details at the moment.
At least as much, if not more.
Mr. Morrissey
That is my point.
Not more.
Yes, more; you will find it in the Finance Account if you look it up.