asked the Minister for Local Government if it is his intention to provide the £60 million necessary for the construction of the road plan proposed by Dublin County Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Dublin Road Plan.
55.
I assume the question refers to certain road proposals at present being considered by Dublin County Council arising out of the recommendations in the report of the Dublin transportation study.
It is my policy to provide financial support to road authorities in the carrying out of their road works programmes as approved, to the fullest extent permissible within the limit of the available funds and, in furtherance of that policy, Road Fund grants allocated to Dublin County Council this year have been increased by over £1 million compared with last year. Further allocations, in Dublin and elsewhere, will be related to the approved works programmes and the degree of priority to be accorded to the individual works projects included in the programmes.
Will the Minister agree that County Dublin is a priority case because of the amount of development that is going on within its boundaries? Will he agree that the maximum grants and the maximum assistance to the County Dublin authorities for their road programme is a matter of urgency?
I agree, and in support of that I would give the Deputy the figures for 1972-73 when the then Government gave Dublin County Council for this purpose £961,730. The amount included in this year's budget is £1,978,310.
Will the Minister not agree that the amount asked for by the county council and the amount the council were in a position to spend in 1972-73 was the £960,000 that the Minister spoke of, and that the county council were not in a position, because of not having the necessary land at that time, to spend any more than the money that was given to them by the then Government? There have been suggestions by the Minister that his Government are doing better. That is incorrect.
I have no such information. The information I have given to the Deputy is not a suggestion but a fact.
Is the Minister aware that the pattern of roadways to be constructed, particularly in north County Dublin, is still very vague and that it is very difficult to ascertain exactly where these major roads will be sited? Is he aware that this is a very unsatisfactory position for business people and ordinary citizens and would he be prepared to ask Dublin County Council as soon as possible to come to a definite decision as to the siting of their major roadway pattern in north County Dublin?
I will have that suggestion conveyed to the Minister.