asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the Mountmellick-Portlaoise main road which is built on a bog has fallen into great disrepair and is becoming dangerous for heavy traffic, and that the bog is moving away from the edges of the road; and if in view of the fact that C.I.E. are not working the Portlaoise-Mountmellick branch railway line and that all goods traffic, passenger traffic, etc., from the south to the midlands travel this road he will make available to Laois County Council a 100 per cent. free grant for putting this road into a first-class state of repair.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Laois Road Repairs Grant.
20.
I understand that, in general, the Mountmellick-Portlaoise road is in reasonably good condition although sections of it are substandard in width and alignment. Re-surfacing of a section of the road where uneven settlement has occured will be undertaken this year. The work will qualify for a 50 per cent. upkeep grant, not for a 100 per cent. improvement grant.
Is it a fact that in cases in which CIE branch lines have been closed and the rail traffic diverted to the roads, such roads qualify for a 100 per cent. grant from the Minister's Department?
Not in all cases.
Does it happen in any case?
In some cases.
Does it happen in Donegal?
In some cases, it happens in Donegal.
If it is a fact that it happens in some cases in Donegal, why can it not happen in similar cases in County Laois?
The Deputy might as well ask himself, if a 100 per cent. arterial grant is given in County Laois, why a grant of similar size is not given in County Donegal this year.
A sum of £75,000 for five years is not too bad for County Donegal.
Not bad for County Laois——
We should like it to be better.
The Deputy would like to tell them in advance.
Of course I would tell them in advance, if I had the information. Why would I not— the same as Deputy O'Malley is trying to do, but he is not getting away with it.