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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1974

Vol. 274 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Amenity Grant.

1.

asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of the amenity grant allocated to Laois County Council in the current transitional financial period; and if he proposes to allocate a supplementary grant in the light of the sizeable backlog of grant applications awaiting the council's attention and the inadequacy of the grant allocated.

A sum of £7,000 has been allocated to Laois County Council under the amenity grants scheme for the current transitional financial period—1st April to 31st December, 1974. The amount provided for amenity grants for the year has been fully allocated and there are no funds available to me from which an additional allocation could be made.

In view of the fact that the Minister has already announced that there will be savings in his Department which would enable him to provide additional money for housing, would it not be possible for him— in view of the great demand there is from all over the country for extended amenity grants and the backlog—to utilise savings in some other section of his Department for this purpose?

I would remind Deputy Lalor that the amount given last year for the full year was £4,000 and that the initial allocation for the year before was £4,500. The £7,000 this year would be £9,000 for a complete 12 months. I think Laois is doing fairly well. I would suggest that Deputy Lalor knows that as well as I do.

I do not accept that. Is the Minister aware that, arising from the introduction of this scheme, a great many voluntary organisations all over the country made plans and spent money in the expectation that moneys would be provided by the Department of Local Government and that a lot of those people feel very badly let down by the present Government?

There is no truth at all in that statement. I would suggest that what Deputy Lalor says is not correct. I would suggest that he go to his county council, get a list from them of what they were seeking and what they propose to do with the money. Then he will realise that he was not briefed before he put down the question.

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