asked the Minister for Local Government why the road works provision of Laois County Council is £34,000 less than last year's provision; if he will compare the position with that of Offaly County Council; the net reduction for all kinds of road works in County Laois; and what alternative employment is to be made available for displaced county council workers during the current financial year.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Road Works Provision
142.
It is the responsibility of the county council as road authority to determine what provision is needed for the improvement and maintenance of roads under their charge. I have not yet been supplied by Laois County Council with full details of the provision for the current year and I am not aware that it has been reduced as stated by the Deputy. In so far as Road Fund grants are involved there has been a reduction of £20,000 in the provision for improvement works on national primary roads. The amounts allocated to date for the other categories of Road Fund Grant are substantially the same as last year. Grants for the improvement of national primary roads have to take account of the needs of the network throughout the country and the allocations to individual counties are subject to variation from year to year according to the progress made with the improvement programme in the county. Because of such unavoidable variations in the roads works programme it is not possible for the road authorities to guarantee regular employment for all road workers.
Road Fund grants for Offaly are substantially unchanged from last year.