asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the poor condition of many of the roads in the north Kerry area, he will make available a special allocation of funds to have them put in a proper state of repair.
Written Answers. - Kerry Roads.
248.
The Road Fund grant allocation to Kerry County Council for the current year is £543,080, an increase of £128,600 over 1972-73. This allocation represents the full grant programme for the current year. The increased provision is intended to finance an enlarged programme of improvement works on national primary roads, but the priority to be given to other schemes, within the relevant allocation is within the discretion of Kerry County Council.
249.
asked the Minister for Local Government if there are plans for the widening of the Ring of Kerry Road from Caragh Bridge to Glenbeigh and to Coolroe west of Glenbeigh in order to deal with the heavy traffic the road has to take; and, if plans are available, when improvements will start.
250.
asked the Minister for Local Government why steps have not been taken to widen the road between Milltown and Killorglin, County Kerry to have the dangerous bends removed and to make the road safe for the increasing amount of traffic using it.
251.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will arrange with Kerry County Council to have the road between Killorglin and Streatroe widened as it is extremely dangerous and is being made more so by the traffic to and from the new factory (name supplied) being built at Bansagh.
Questions Nos. 249 to 251 relate to sections of the Tralee-Caherciveen National Secondary road and I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take them together. The programming of improvement works on this and other public roads under their charge is the responsibility of Kerry County Council. They have in recent years carried out a number of improvement works on the road and their current programme includes some improvements at Laharan, Killorglin and between Coolroe and Glenbeigh. I am not aware of the council's further plans for the improvement of the sections referred to by the Deputy. I have, however, confidence in the competence and willingness of the council to discharge their responsibilities in this regard and I do not consider it necessary or appropriate that I should intervene with the council in the manner suggested.
252.
asked the Minister for Local Government why the Ring of Kerry Road between Killarney and Killorglin is not even a national secondary road; and if he is aware that it carries the greatest amount of traffic of any road in County Kerry and that a growing industrial complex in Killorglin will increase the heavy traffic using it.
The Killarney/Killorglin road did not meet the criteria laid down for designation as a national road, traffic volume being only one of the factors relevant to consideration of such designation. The question of the classification of this road in the regional context is currently being examined and I intend to ensure that there will be full consultation in the matter with the Kerry County Council.