asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that, as a result of his instructions to the Donegal County Council, a grant of £7,500 in respect of the main road in Dore, near Bunbeg, County Donegal, was withdrawn; and whether, in view of the serious unemployment caused by his action, he will restore the grant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Withdrawal of Donegal Road Grant.
The work at Dore, to which the Deputy refers, was a scheme being carried out by the Donegal County Council under the amount made available to them earlier in the year for main road improvements. As publicly announced, the Government decided last August that, in present circumstances, such works should be suspended. The amount of money unexpended on main road works has, however, been made available in full to the county council for alternative county road improvement works. The selection of these alternative county road works, including their location, was left in the hands of the county council, and I hope the Deputy, as a member of Donegal County Council, will see that same is expended in the parish of Gweedore.
I think the Minister is aware that none of the moneys mentioned in the question were spent within eight miles of the place they were taken from.
I think that is a matter for the county council. I have no objection at all to the money being spent within eight miles. I think the people of Carrowcannon to which the money was allocated are as much entitled to the county road improvement grant as any part of County Donegal, and I am disappointed that the Deputy takes a poor view of the switch of this money to a neighbouring parish—but it was not done by me. It was done by the county council.