asked the Minister for Local Government what is the total amount allocated to Kerry County Council under tourist road grants since the inception of such grants, with a break-down of the allocation as applicable to each of the four electoral areas of the local authority.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Tourist Road Grants.
22.
The Tourist Road Grant was introduced in 1953/54 with the aim of providing funds, within an annual limit of £400,000, for the improvement of tourist routes in the Gaeltacht and Congested areas. A total of £440,000 has been made available to Kerry County Council in annual allocations of £55,000. The application of the grant to specific projects is in the first instance a matter for the local authority. The Department has, however, been concerned to ensure the maximum benefits to tourism from the expenditure involved and, to that end, has pressed the Councils concerned to give priority under the scheme to the improvement of the most important tourist and scenic roads in their areas. Records are not kept in the Department of the regional distribution of the grant within the counties.