asked the Minister for Local Government the toal amount of money allocated to Counties Sligo and Leitrim for local improvement schemes for 1973.
54.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Improvement Schemes.
53.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will increase local improvement scheme grants for Counties Sligo and Leitrim as there is a long waiting-list of applications in both counties.
55.
asked the Minister for Local Government if, in view of the large number of applications at present outstanding, he will increase the allocation for local improvement schemes to Monaghan County Council.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 54 and 55 together.
The whole of the current year's provision for the local improvements scheme has already been fully allocated to the county councils. Counties Leitrim and Sligo were allocated £100,000 and £30,000 respectively.
An increase in the allocation to any county can only come from underspending by other counties. I have this matter under examination and if any reallocation is possible the needs of Sligo, Leitrim and Monaghan will be considered in conjunction with any other counties requiring additional allocations.
Is the Minister aware that the waiting lists in both counties are very long and cannot be dealt with until such time as there is a substantial increase in the allocation? In Leitrim there is a five-year waiting list and the one in Sligo is very long also.
It is not possible to increase the allocation unless there is money from some counties who do not spend their allocation completely. If there is any money that is not being spent in other counties I would attempt to allocate it to those counties which are entitled most to it. The amount of money allocated both to Counties Sligo and Leitrim was substantial—£100,000 and £30,000 respectively—but everything cannot be done in the one year. I appreciate the difficulty and realise that a lot of extra money is required.
Is the Minister aware that there are approximately 200 outstanding applications in Monaghan and that these may not receive attention for the next eight or ten years? Consequently, many people are being deprived in this area where there is bulk collection of milk and where there are silage operations. As many as 800 farmers could be involved in the 200 applications.
Perhaps the Deputy would keep his supplementaries brief.
I appreciate the position and I agree that something should be done if at all possible. However, the Deputy will be fair enough to appreciate that these 200 applications did not emerge within the past ten months: they have been there for many years. I shall endeavour to do everything possible to help but it would be unfair to expect me to deal with all the applications within a 12-month period.
Perhaps it would be possible to introduce legislation of a different kind to deal with the problem because the present situation is unfair to the ratepayers in those areas.
I shall have a look at the position.
In view of the satisfactory work carried out under this scheme, particularly in the West, would the Minister consider raising the allocation for each county next year?
I shall be seeking as much as possible.
A long hard look should be taken in this regard and more money made available.
The Deputy will agree that there was more money made available this year than in the previous year.
That is not so.
Two years ago the amount was greater than what it is this year.