asked the Minister for Local Government if he will statethe total amount paid by way of grant to local authorities for (a) upkeep of main roads, (b) improvement of main roads and (c) improvement of county roads in the years ending 31st March, 1952 and 1953, and the total amount estimated to be paid under the same headings for the year ending 31st March, 1954.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Grants.
As the reply includes a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
The following are the particulars:—
|
Year |
Grants payable to Local Authorities from the Road Fund for:— |
||
|
(a) Upkeep of Main Roads |
(b) Improvement of Main Roads |
(c) Improvement of Co. Roads |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Ended 31/3/52 |
699,801 |
682,262 |
1,198,449 |
|
Ended 31/3/53 |
810,000* |
1,180,000* |
1,400,000* |
|
Ending 31/3/54 |
1,000,000 † |
1,550,000 † |
1,700,000 † |
*Estimated. Final figures are not yet available.
† Estimated.
The above figures are exclusive of the estate duty grants which are paid to local authorities on the basis of their expenditure on the upkeep of roads and bridges during the year ended 31-12-1887. The grants under this head for the three years are as follows:—
|
Year ended 31-3-52 |
— |
£109,806 |
||
|
,, ended 31-3-53 |
— |
83,115 |
||
|
,, ending 31-3-54 |
— |
90,000 |
||
|
(estimated). |
Also excluded is that portion of the grants under the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote for the relief of unemployment which is extended on main, county and urban road improvement works. The statistics of the grants are not segregated as between expenditure on main and county roads.
The total of the grants expended is:—
|
Year ended 31-3-52 |
— |
£206,669 |
||
|
,,ended 31-3-53 |
— |
232,831 |
Details of the amount to be provided out of Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote for the current financial year are not yet available. The figuresfor the estimated amount to be spent on road improvement for 1953-54 do not include the provision for the improvement of tourist roads in the Gaeltacht and congested areas for which a sum of £400,000 is provided. It cannot be indicated at this stage how this amount will be spent as between main and country roads.