asked the Minister for Local Government if he will receive a deputation from the Offaly County Council to discuss the need for increased road grants so as to repair many roads in the county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Offaly Road Grants.
I have not received any request for the reception of such a deputation from the Offaly County Council and, since the current grant allocations which were notified to road authorities last February represent the maximum amounts available from the Road Fund towards the cost of improvement and maintenance work in the present year, there would be no purpose in my receiving such a deputation.
In view of the fact that the roads in the County of Offaly are in a very bad state of repair because Offaly is one of the best turf-producing counties in the country— there is more traffic there, with lorries and tractors drawing turf—would the Minister not be prepared to give special consideration in the case of the County of Offaly?
A similar request was addressed last spring to my predecessor, who found himself in exactly the same position as I am in.
Does the Minister remember the speeches he and his colleagues made in 1949 when they said it was never their intention to cut down the level of road grants which were given up to the year 1949?
I had to take, in this case, what I got.
Is the Minister aware, and if he is not aware, will he look up his file and he will find out, that his predecessor did receive the deputation?
I see no purpose in receiving a deputation, putting them to cost, when I know I can do nothing for them.
We are quite satisfied with that.