asked the Minister for Local Government if he will approve the sewerage contract documents for Tullamore Urban Council in respect of New Road, Church Road and Clonminch Road, Tullamore, County Offaly, which were sent to his Department eight months ago.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water and Sewerage Schemes.
12.
These documents are under consideration in my Department and I am not in a position at this stage to indicate when a decision may be given on them.
In view of the fact that the documents have been eight months in his Department is there any hope of getting approval in the current financial year?
I am not able to answer that question. If I was I would give the Deputy the answer straight off the reel. However, I can tell the Deputy that in 1972-73 all his county got was £28,000 for Tullamore UDC capital allocation. In 1973-74 it was nil and in 1974 £35,900. This year they have already got £225,000. I understand that is not enough but I am trying to point out that it is a tremendously greater amount than was given in the previous years. The Deputy can be assured that if the money is available I will be glad to give it.
The Minister is a research historian.
It pays to remind people.
Perhaps the Minister would like to remind the House how much was given in amenity grants?
I gave that information a few moments ago.
In view of the fact that the Minister has done such research on this matter can he inform me when the scheme will commence? The Minister gave us to understand in the course of a number of statements that there would be no hold up on any schemes at all.
I did not say there would be no hold up on sewerage or water schemes. During the year I said I could only make available money from the amount that is available for these schemes. Tullamore has already received £225,000 this year as against £28,000 in 1972-73 and nothing at all in 1973-74. They are not doing so badly but I would be glad to help them if I could.
What about inflation?
Inflation would not bring it up to £225,000.
In view of the fact that it is an expanding town, would the Minister tell me if he will approve the contract documents? Would the Minister reply yes or no?
If I could, I would have replied yes or no immediately. The Deputy can live in hope. It is better to live in hope than not to arrive.
It is worse not to arrive ever.
Why did the Minister not allocate any money to Tullamore in 1973-74?
There was no demand for it.
There is this year but the Minister is not meeting it.
The trouble is that Tullamore had given up the ghost. In 1972-73 they got £28,000. It was not worth while starting anything with it, so the next year they had nothing prepared. Then, they found this Government were doing a good job, they came looking for money and they got it.
Was not that the period when the Minister was saying there was no scarcity of money?
I do not grasp the meaning of what the Minister has been saying. Whereas last year no money at all was provided for schemes in Tullamore, this year a very large provision has been made but sanction has been withheld. Is that what the Minister has been saying?
The Deputy must not have been listening too well because he made two mistakes. Last year, £35,900 was provided but in the year we took over from Fianna Fáil there were no plans and no money was given because they were not prepared to spend any. This year they have already got £225,000, which they have drawn.
I have given the House a lot of latitude on this question. I am anxious to get on to other questions.
If the money is available why has sanction been withheld?
Sanction was given for £225,000 this year. They are looking for further money which they may need before the end of the year and I have told them that so far I have not been able to make it available to them.