asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of road grants under all headings unspent in 1973-74 due to industrial action; and the use to which that money was put.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Grants.
27.
The entire income of the Road Fund available for grants in 1973-74 was paid out to road authorities. In the case of Cork County Council, I have already explained to the Deputy that the total grants paid in 1973-74 were £226,000 less than the total allocated to that county. Some road authorities were paid more in 1973-74 than the amounts allocated to them because they had completed road works qualifying for grant payments.
The reasons why the expenditure by Cork County Council was less than the amount allocated are attributable mainly to delays in land acquisition. Industrial action was to some extent responsible for delays in completing particular road schemes. When these schemes are completed by the council, payment of grants will be made in the ordinary way.
I would repeat that the Road Fund allocation to Cork County Council for the nine months to 31st December, 1974 is £1,106,220 which is equivalent to £1.475 million on a twelve months basis compared with a total amount of grants paid to the council in 1973-74 of £1.22 million. This allows for a substantial increase in the rate of expenditure in the current year.
Arising out of the Minister's very lengthy reply and his references to matters which do not arise in the question, he said that there was an increase of 6 per cent in the allocation to Cork County Council and that costs were up 25 per cent. To go back to the question, whatever way he puts it, the plain facts are that the money allocated to Cork County Council and carried over to this financial year has gone to other counties and is being spent there.
Would the Minister like to explain the reason for the delay in regard to land acquisitions? He said in the reply that the expenditure was less because the land had not been acquired and he went on to gloss over the fact that there were other reasons——
A question please, Deputy.
I have already asked a question and I am explaining why I am asking a question. I want to know why — or is the Minister aware? —land was not acquired in Cork during last year.
The Deputy—I think he is a member of Cork County Council —must be aware why the land has not been acquired.
He is not a member, but he will be soon.
On a point of order, Question No. 25 was answered amid noise in the House and was inaudible on this side of the House.
We cannot now go back to Question No. 25. Question No. 28 please.