asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the fact that the residents of Captain Con Murphy's Terrace, Millstreet, County Cork, have already lodged their share for a public amenity grant, he will expedite payment of the Department's contribution.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amenity Grants.
52.
An application by Cork County Council for an amenity grant in this case was received in the Department on 15th instant and is being examined.
53.
asked the Minister for Local Government if there has been a complete close-down on amenity grants; and, if not, if he will state the amount paid under this heading during the year 1966.
The amount paid out under the amenity grants scheme in 1966 was £30,051, the highest total ever paid in one year.
Are amenity grants still being paid? We have not got any in County Dublin for a very long time?
They may be all paid for the current year but the amount paid in this year was the highest ever.
Would the Minister not think that, as amenity grants are something that only arrived in legislation quite recently, one might expect from the expanding nature of the provision that there would be a much larger sum than £30,000 in this year, even if it is the highest ever, and that it would be still expanding? A sum of £30,000 for the country is not very much.
The Deputy is quite right in saying that this is a recent innovation. It is only under this Government that amenity grants have been made available. No doubt the figure will continue to expand.
It has been contracting for the past eight months. The Government have spent no money.
A sum of £30,000 is not "no money".
(Interruptions.)
The puppet can do anything when Neil Blaney pulls the strings.