(Cavan) asked the Minister for Finance the amount of local contributions received and held by him in respect of rural improvement schemes works which were to be carried out in the current year but which will not now be put in hands until the beginning of the next financial year at the earliest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvement Scheme Contributions.
21.
I would refer to my reply to a question by Deputy Spring on 10th November, 1965. The total amount of local contributions on hands at 26th November, 1965, in respect of schemes not yet authorised for execution was £4,379. It is not possible to say at this stage how many of these schemes will be deferred until the next financial year.
(Cavan): Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider paying interest on contributions that have been received for work to be done and which will not now be done until next year?
Some lodgments took place only within the last couple of weeks.
(Cavan): And some were received over six months ago.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider using the money now lodged in putting a few schemes into operation soon to give employment?
The money is lodged for a specific purpose, and the allocation for this year is not quite expended. Some of these schemes may yet be approved for this year. It is not the case that they will all be deferred until next year.
The £4,000 lodged is of little use to anybody.
It will be used for the purpose for which it was lodged in due course.