asked the Minister for Local Government what grants are being made available for the improvement of the main roads between Headford and Kenmare, and between Farranfore and Cahirciveen, so as to make them safe for all kinds of traffic which is likely to increase considerably as a result of the closing of the Córas Iompair Éireann branch lines in these two South Kerry areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Kerry Main Roads.
31.
A special grant of £12,500 has been notified to the Kerry County Council in the current year for the Headford/Kenmare road to deal with the problems created by the closing of the Headford Junction/Kenmare branch railway line. It is proposed to allocate further grants for the same purpose in each of the three coming years. A special grant has not been allocated in respect of the road between Farranfore and Cahirciveen since the special funds made available for such purposes are confined to cases where the road problem is clearly created by the railway closing and is such as cannot be dealt with under the other grants available to the council. It is open to the county council to deal with the road in question with funds made available under the main road improvement grant which has been increased this year.
Would the Minister agree that the extra cost involved in the maintenance and improvement of those roads will be a great deal higher than the alleged loss incurred in the railways before they were closed?
I am afraid I do not quite follow the Deputy so as to be able to agree or disagree with him.
Eventually it will be found that improvement and maintenance of the roads will cost a great deal more than the amount of the alleged loss incurred by the branch lines before they were closed. So, the ratepayers of Kerry will be at a loss all the time.