asked the Minister for Local Government the criteria used in allocating moneys to various counties for local improvements schemes.
34.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Improvements Schemes.
33.
asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of money allocated to each county for local improvements schemes for the year 1975.
I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together, and as the reply contains a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Local Improvements Scheme.
Amount available for State Grant for 1975.
|
County Council |
Amount |
|
£ |
|
|
Carlow |
6,500 |
|
Cavan |
98,000 |
|
Clare |
35,000 |
|
Cork |
77,000 |
|
Donegal |
118,000 |
|
Dublin |
3,000 |
|
Galway |
85,000 |
|
Kerry |
112,000 |
|
Kildare |
6,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
6,500 |
|
Laoighis |
14,000 |
|
Leitrim |
104,000 |
|
Limerick |
12,000 |
|
Longford |
24,000 |
|
Louth |
13,000 |
|
Mayo |
118,000 |
|
Meath |
7,000 |
|
Monaghan |
34,000 |
|
Offaly |
22,000 |
|
Roscommon |
30,000 |
|
Sligo |
34,000 |
|
Tipperary N. |
3,500 |
|
Tipperary S. |
3,500 |
|
Waterford |
9,000 |
|
Westmeath |
4,000 |
|
Wexford |
14,000 |
|
Wicklow |
7,000 |
Annual allocations of grants are determined having regard to the total provision available for the scheme, the pattern of expenditure in previous years, and the relative demand for grants in each County.
Would it be possible for the Minister to answer No. 33? In that question I asked for specific information and I would ask him if he could reply to it?
That is a reasonable request. The usual criterion used is the number of schemes proposed in a county, the amount of money which that county got the previous year and was able to use.
I cannot accept that——
A question, Deputy, please.
I asked the Minister did he examine the waiting list for the county I represent, Monaghan, and examine the allocations. I hold that that information is not correct, that that is not the system.
That is the Deputy's privilege.
Question No. 35.
Did the Minister take into account, in this year's allocation, the fact that many counties, such as Leitrim, affected by the engineering strike, were not in a position to expend a lot of their money while, at the same time, having before them a thousand local improvements schemes applications?
County Leitrim got £104,000 this year. I do not know what they are complaining about.
Is the Minister aware that there is a backlog in Monaghan of over 200 applications? Is he further aware that the allocation we got this year will not bear out his statement that it is based on previous years? Would the Minister examine this matter?
Monaghan got £34,000 and I will be glad to see them spending it.
Question No. 35.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Deputy will have to join the queue.
I will communicate with the Deputy.