asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received a resolution from the Cork County Council, asking that a grant be made available for the improvement of the road from Castletownbere to Allihies, County Cork; if he is in a position to accede to the request; and whether, in addition, he will state when grants will be made available for the resumption of road improvement work in the Berehaven peninsula.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Road Improvement Work.
I have received a resolution passed by the Cork County Council on the 4th September, asking that a grant be made available from the road fund for the improvement of the main road Castletownbere to Dursey Sound. At the same meeting, however, the county council indicated that they were not prepared, unless my Department met the full cost, to carry out a road survey which is an essential preliminary to this and all other improvement schemes on main roads. The county council at their meeting had before them an intimation from my Department that grants from the road fund for the improvement of roads would not be made available unless and until the improvement schemes had been prepared to a plan based on the proposed road survey. Consideration of the council's resolution must therefore be postponed until the necessary arrangements for carrying out the road survey are made.
Do I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say that grants for improvement works are dependent upon the county council's agreeing to this survey?
That is the case.
That raises a very important question and I ask for an early opportunity of raising the whole matter in the House. I think this is the worst form of coercion of local authorities.
The Deputy might give notice at some future date. The Deputy must renew his request.