asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money expended in each county in respect of rural improvement schemes since the schemes were transferred to his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Improvement Schemes.
27.
The Rural Improvement Scheme, with the Minor Employment and Bog Development Scheme, was merged in the Local Improvements Scheme operated by the County Councils from 1st April, 1968. The expenditure on all these schemes from 1st April, 1967, the date of transfer to the Department, to 31st March, 1969, is in the form of a tabular statement, which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
County |
Expenditure in 1967-68 |
Expenditure in 1968-69 |
||||
|
Minor Employ- ment Scheme |
Bog Develop- ment Scheme |
Rural Improve- ment Scheme |
Completion of Schemes sanctioned in former years |
Local Improve- ments Scheme |
Grand Total 1st April, 1967 to 31st March, 1969 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Carlow |
— |
— |
6,223 |
898 |
6,879 |
14,000 |
|
Cavan |
603 |
1,501 |
33,140 |
546 |
27,240 |
63,030 |
|
Clare |
1,109 |
3,637 |
6,736 |
369 |
19,270 |
31,121 |
|
Cork |
989 |
1,035 |
18,653 |
14 |
32,027 |
52,718 |
|
Donegal |
12,789 |
1,788 |
15,394 |
4,659 |
4,000 |
38,630 |
|
Dublin |
— |
— |
156 |
— |
2,633 |
2,789 |
|
Galway |
6,184 |
8,808 |
22,335 |
2,301 |
32,575 |
72,203 |
|
Kerry |
5,525 |
3,893 |
30,963 |
3,762 |
43,927 |
88,070 |
|
Kildare |
— |
1,936 |
6,843 |
92 |
7,864 |
16,735 |
|
Kilkenny |
— |
— |
1,408 |
528 |
6,983 |
8,919 |
|
Laoighis |
— |
1,195 |
2,934 |
1,315 |
16,709 |
22,153 |
|
Leitrim |
3,230 |
1,478 |
34,783 |
3,173 |
35,000 |
77,664 |
|
Limerick |
1,524 |
1,012 |
4,658 |
135 |
9,870 |
17,199 |
|
Longford |
620 |
981 |
10,632 |
217 |
12,736 |
25,186 |
|
Louth |
— |
213 |
5,824 |
866 |
9,428 |
16,331 |
|
Mayo |
10,355 |
6,652 |
30,802 |
353 |
21,210 |
69,372 |
|
Meath |
— |
472 |
448 |
1 |
378 |
1,299 |
|
Monaghan |
— |
172 |
3,216 |
139 |
9,231 |
12,758 |
|
Offaly |
— |
2,598 |
9,389 |
1,375 |
15,865 |
29,227 |
|
Roscommon |
1,319 |
4,511 |
4,919 |
888 |
4,151 |
15,788 |
|
Sligo |
2,529 |
2,448 |
3,396 |
431 |
5,112 |
13,916 |
|
Tipperary, NR |
— |
336 |
1,778 |
5 |
3,465 |
5,584 |
|
Tipperary, SR |
— |
— |
— |
— |
55 |
55 |
|
Waterford |
— |
— |
2,085 |
— |
5,568 |
7,653 |
|
Westmeath |
— |
2,028 |
— |
37 |
2,985 |
5,050 |
|
Wexford |
— |
— |
1,959 |
— |
5,324 |
7,283 |
|
Wicklow |
— |
822 |
2,276 |
853 |
900 |
4,851 |
|
TOTALS |
46,776 |
47,516 |
260,950 |
22,957 |
341,385 |
719,584 |
NOTE.—Figures shown for the Rural Improvement Scheme and the Local Improvements Scheme include local contributions.
28.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider substituting the following scale for local improvement schemes instead of the one in existence: valuations of (a) under £5: nil, (b) £5 and under £10: 5 per cent, (c) £10 and under £17 10s 0d: 10 per cent, (d) £17 10s 0d and under £25: 15 per cent, (e) £25 and under £50: 20 per cent, (f) £50 and under £75: 30 per cent, (g) £75 and under £100: 40 per cent and (h) £100 and over: 50 per cent.
It is not proposed to alter the existing contribution scale applicable to the Local Improvements Scheme which for the lower valuations shows substantial reductions on the scale applicable—to Rural Improvement Schemes—prior to June, 1967, and which in fact requires no contribution where the average valuation is under £5.
I can speak only for my own county. Many people are failing to accept the terms of these schemes because the local contribution is much too high. Is the Minister aware that, if the scale I propose were substituted for the scale in operation, these schemes would become much more operational than they are at the moment?
I am aware that the rates suggested are lower than those in operation and those in operation are lower than they ever were before.