asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has received a letter from Wexford County Council with regard to the allocation of road tourist grants to County Wexford; and, if so, what action he has taken on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wexford Tourist Road Grants.
38.
I have received the letter referred to. The council's application relates to the year 1965/66, in respect of which the allocation of Road Fund grants has not yet been determined, and the application has been acknowledged accordingly.
Would the Minister say whether, for the purpose of these road grants, he determines what counties are to be regarded as tourist counties?
The determination of what counties or areas receive tourist road grants has been adhered to and has not been changed since the introduction of these grants. To that degree I do not determine them but I probably could be said to determine the continuation of grants to those counties where they have operated for the past ten years.
In view of the progress there has been in the tourist industry in recent years and in view of the fact that some counties not already provided for have now become tourist counties, would the Minister, between now and the allocation of the grants generally, consider having a review of the Twenty Six Counties to see whether those counties which did not heretofore receive these grants should now have them applied to them?
Of course, the term "tourist grant" is rather a misnomer because it is only one of the considerations that were taken into consideration in the allocation of these grants to those counties to which the moneys have been paid for these years. The congested areas came into it, as did the relative wealth or otherwise of particular counties and their ability to raise from their own funds the necessary money. Then, particularly on the western seaboard, the existence of Gaeltacht areas to which approaches might be improved in order to increase tourism in these areas, were also given a certain weight, so that the name is rather misleading in that it is not strictly related only to tourism and the changing pattern and its increase might not indicate that a change would be necessary or advantageous——
The Minister anyway is not bound to those roads already scheduled as tourist roads for the purpose of these grants?
No, not strictly.
The Minister should consider another few counties.
It is not the few counties I have to consider; it is the money I have to allocate.
Donegal is nearly finished now and there should be money for other counties.