asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the fact that a sum of £6,000 of the tourist road grant to County Mayo was unallocated because the Drummin-Sheafrey road was not sanctioned by his Department, he will allocate this money to the Ballyhaunis-Ballinlough road at Coolnafarna where the road is dangerous for fast traffic,
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Road Grant.
19.
It is a matter for Mayo County Council to propose where the money in question should be spent and my Department have received no proposals from the council in relation to it. I understand, however, that the Ballyhaunis-Ballinlough road at the location referred to is not considered to be in urgent need of improvement relative to other sections of the same route and having regard to the needs of other major routes in the county.
As to the Drummin-Sheafrey road, I would like to make it clear that my Department have not refused to sanction improvement of this road with the aid of Road Fund grants. While it has not been accepted that the expenditure of tourist road grant money on the improvement of the route to a high standard can be justified, a proposal under the county road improvement grant for the continuation of the improvement of the road to the same standard as the one mile scheme which has already been completed thereon under that grant will be symspathetically considered and the council were so advised in December last.