asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether, owing to the increased transport of agricultural produce, viz., beet, wheat, oats and milk, now being carted by horses, he is prepared to permit that where, in the years 1942, 1943 and 1944, the same or nearly the same amount of money has been provided for main roads county councils may spend such moneys on roads other than main roads.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expenditure on Roads.
If the Deputy's suggestion is that grants applicable to main roads should be diverted to county roads, I could not agree to the proposal. Any failure on the part of a county council to provide adequately for the maintenance of main roads would lead to considerable deterioration in the roads and would later require disproportionately larger expenditure from rates to restore them to their proper condition.
Where the county councils cannot provide surfacing material, will the Minister agree to spend a certain percentage of that money on roads other than main roads?
So far as funds are provided out of the Road Fund, the first claim is that of the main road and if, as the Deputy suggests, materials are not available for the maintenance of the main roads, I cannot see how they can be available for the maintenance of the ordinary county roads. Whether the materials are available or not, grants from the Road Fund are definitely allocated for the main roads.