(Cavan) asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that there is a large accumulation of schemes awaiting attention under the rural improvement schemes in County Cavan; and if he will sufficiently increase the grant for these schemes for the current year to enable the county council to clear the arrears during the coming financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cavan Rural Improvement Schemes.
11.
The sum already allocated this year to Cavan County Council under the local improvements scheme represents that county's full proportionate share of the available funds and it is not proposed to increase it.
(Cavan): Does the Minister appreciate that this question of lanes is an acute problem in County Cavan and that the amount allocated for the year 1968-69 and 1969-70 has not been sufficient even to complete the number of schemes handed over to Cavan County Council by the Department of Local Government? Is the Minister further aware that there are 500 applications for forms for lanes, et cetera, received in Cavan County Council and that at the present rate of grant it would take ten years to clear up that number? I would seriously ask the Minister, having regard to the acute problem that this is in County Cavan, to have another look at it and to increase the grant substantially.
This is the proportionate share based on allocations over five years. Last year, in fact, only half of the allocation was spent. My information is that there are 38 applications awaiting inspection and that the figure of 500 that the Deputy refers to is requests for application forms but that there are not 500 application forms awaiting inspection.
(Cavan): I may have to raise this on the Adjournment. Is the Minister not aware that the fact that some money was not spent last year was due to a dispute between his Department and the county manager and other technical people in County Cavan and that the ratepayers of County Cavan had nothing to do with it? Is the Minister not further aware that the 38 applications to which he refers is the final number of lanes handed over by his Department to the county council two years ago, which they had received but had not done? Is the Minister further aware that it is not possible, in view of the amount of the grant, even to get an application form in Cavan at the moment? If the Minister accepts that, will he please review the situation with a view to improving the grant?
The allocation to Cavan represents 6.39 per cent of the total provision for the scheme this year and it is based on the allocations over a period of five years. It is a higher amount than in any year, with the exception of 1967-68, when it was £30,024. Over the five year period the allocation to Cavan was 6.06 per cent and this represents 6.39 per cent of the total.
(Cavan): I am speaking for the future. With your permission, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.