asked the Minister for Local Government if he can now state the estimated extra expenditure on West Cork roads owing to the closing down of the West Cork railways by Córas Iompair Éireann under the headings (a) total capital sum needed to bring these roads up to the required standard to take the estimated increased traffic, and (b) total sum needed to keep these roads in a condition to take such increased traffic; if he has any proposals by way of increased grants from the Road Fund to the Cork County Council to meet such estimated increase; and, if so, what is the total of the increased grants proposed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Expenditure on West Cork Roads.
18.
I am not aware that an estimate has been prepared of the extent, if any, to which extra expenditure on the maintenance and improvement of West Cork roads will be necessitated by additional Córas Iompair Éireann traffic following projected rail closings in the area. There have been no representations by Cork County Council in the matter. My present information is that the volume of the extra traffic will not be substantial and it is not clear that it will necessitate any special improvement works which cannot be executed under the Council's normal improvement grants. The Main and County Road Improvement grants to Cork County Council amount to £499,900 this year, in addition to which a Tourist Road Grant of £55,000 and other substantial road improvement grants are payable. Any overall increase by the Council in expenditure qualifying for the Main Road Upkeep Grant would automatically mean an increase in that grant.
Can the Minister reconcile the reply he has just given with the fact that he donated £75,000 to his own constituency when the branchline was closed in that area?
That is a separate matter.
It is most significant.
He is like the parson, christening his own child first.
That is surely a matter that can be discussed on a more appropriate occasion.
It will be.