asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of each of the years 1970-71 and 1971-72 in regard to Counties Meath and Kildare the amount of funds provided by his Department and the local authorities for works on (a) main trunk and link roads, (b) county roads and (c) county borough and urban roads; and if the ratio between his Department's and the local authority's contributions is lower for either of these counties than the national average; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath-Kildare Road Grants.
The amounts of Road Fund grants to local authorities in Counties Meath and Kildare in 1970-71 and 1971-72 in respect of the categories mentioned is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
As the returns of the amounts provided by the local authorities from their own funds, under the categories mentioned, are not yet complete I am unable to reply to the last two parts of the question.
Following is the statement:
1970/71 |
1971/72 |
|||
Road Fund Grants |
£ |
Road Fund Grants |
£ |
|
(a) Main Roads including National Primary Roads |
County Meath |
388,594 |
(a) County Meath |
348,600 |
County Kildare |
365,871 |
County Kildare |
324,100* |
|
(b) County Roads |
County Meath |
Nil |
(b) County Meath, |
Nil |
County Kildare |
6,740 |
County Kildare |
6,740 |
|
(c) Urban Roads: |
||||
County Meath, An Uaimh |
5,363 |
(c) County Meath An Uaimh |
363 |
|
Ceanannus Mór |
121 |
Ceanannus Mór |
121 |
|
Trim |
121 |
Trim |
121 |
|
County Kildare, Athy |
605 |
County Kildare, Athy |
605 |
|
Naas |
2,452 |
Naas |
1,452 |
* Includes £2,000 grant for traffic management schemes in Naas U.D.C.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that County Meath is at a serious disadvantage due to the fact that it is one of the two counties which do not qualify for the county rate grant and, therefore, county roads, which need to be re-aligned and so forth, cannot be done because of the non-availability of this grant?
I am not so aware.
The Parliamentary Secretary should be.