asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a number of road workers employed by the Kerry County Council have been laid off; and that more will probably be laid off in the near future owing to the delay in getting work under way out of the main road improvement grant; when he received proposals from the Kerry County Council with regard to work to be carried out under this grant; in what districts it was proposed by the Council to carry out the work; whether he has yet come to any decision with regard to the proposals of the Council in this matter; and, if so, at what date he reached such a decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Kerry Road Works.
31.
I am aware that there has been a drop in the numbers employed on roads in Kerry in recent months as compared with last year's figures. I understand that this is due chiefly to a hold-up in the acquisition of lands for the schemes which it was originally intended to carry out under this year's Main Road Improvement Grant and that an improvement in the employment position is expected in the near future as a result of the council undertaking alternative works.
A scheme for the improvement of a section of the Tralee-Listowel road at Waterfall at an estimated cost of £13,000 under the council's 1962-63 main road improvement grant was received on 2nd October and is being approved subject to some technical adjustments designed to effect savings in cost. The only other scheme submitted to date under the grant, a scheme for the final surfacing at a cost of £4,000 of a recently improved section of the Tralee-Killarney road, was received on 19th instant and is being considered.