(Cavan) asked the Minister for Local Government if he will substantially increase the Local Improvement Scheme grant for County Cavan for the year 1972-73 in view of the fact that there is still a heavy backlog of lanes awaiting repair under the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cavan Local Improvement Scheme.
128.
As the Deputy is aware the allocation for County Cavan was increased from £35,000 in 1970-71 to £77,000 in the current year. The provision for the scheme has not yet been determined for the year 1972-73 and consequently I cannot forecast what amount will be allocated to County Cavan for that year.
(Cavan): I am indeed aware that the allocation was increased, as the Minister has said, from £35,000 to over £70,000 in respect of the current year but is the Minister aware that under this scheme Cavan County Council were recently only dealing with applications made in 1967? I take it the Minister will agree that that is a very serious backlog. Would he consider giving very special consideration to Cavan in view of the situation there?
The Minister dealt very generously in the allocation he made to County Cavan last year. For the Deputy's information I would like to tell him out of the £77,000 which I allocated for this year in the first seven months the actual grant expenditure totalled £10,700. If the Cavan County Council are to use the full allocation made to them in the current year they will certainly have to speed up progress on the schemes particularly in relation to inspections if they hope to achieve expenditure of the full amount already allocated to them for the current year.
(Cavan): Has the Minister any recent information from Cavan County Council, because I read in a report of a recent meeting where there is no doubt that the entire allocation will be used up before the end of the financial year? Indeed, I would agree with the Minister that it would be a serious reflection on those in charge in Cavan County Council if it were not used up because there is a crying need for those schemes. As I told the Minister they are now only dealing with the 1967 applications. Will the Minister bear that in mind when applying to the Minister for Finance for an allocation for next year?
Yes.