(Cavan) and Mr. Reynolds asked the Minister for Local Government the total receipts from the Road Fund for the years 1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Fund Receipts.
30.
Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick
The total amounts lodged to the credit of the Road Fund during the periods are:
|
Year |
Amount £000s |
|
1964-65 |
8,804 |
|
1965-66 |
9,575 |
|
1966-67 |
9,215 |
|
1967-68 |
10,217 |
|
1968-69 |
Not yet available |
(Cavan): Would the Minister not think it somewhat unreasonable that, while the net produce of the Road Fund seems to be increasing, the road grants are being reduced year after year?
They are not.
(Cavan): Over the period covered by this question I suggest to the Minister that the road grants have, in fact, been reduced while the Road Fund is increasing.
As the Deputy knows, when work is started on roads in one year it involves a certain commitment for ensuing years. This Government intend to ensure that the Road Fund remains solvent and that work can proceed in an orderly way on the roads.
There are six years involved here, and, if the Minister tots up the amount that has come in, he will find there is a much smaller amount going to the Road Fund.
No, that is not so.
(Cavan): Would the Minister answer the point I raised? Does he not agree that he answered a question on these very same years last week and that it would appear that over these years the amount allocated by way of road grants has gone steadily down, and that it appears from his answer today that the amount coming into the Road Fund is gradually and progressively increasing?
The question of grants does not seem to arise.
(Cavan): It is very material.
The amount allocated for new works may go down because there is always a high level of commitment, and in the proper, prudent management of the Road Fund the overall level of commitment will have to be kept to a reasonable amount.
(Cavan): That may be clear to the Minister, but it is not clear to the country.