asked the Minister for Local Government if the Government have studied the north Mayo development plan; and if the necessary funds to carry out its recommendations will be made available to Mayo County Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Development Plan.
2.
I take it that the Deputy is referring to the development strategy for the north Mayo area which was prepared for Mayo County Council by a firm of consultants in 1975 and which related to the period up to 1991.
I understand that copies of the consultants' report have been circulated by the county council to all State Departments. While I would expect, therefore, that Departments would take account of the report in the making of decisions relating to the north Mayo area, I should point out that action arising from the report is, in the first instance, a matter for Mayo County Council. It is for them to decide whether, and if so to what extent, the proposals made by the consultants should be incorporated into the county development plan and the council's various work programmes and, having done so, to submit appropriate projects for financing as and when they become necessary. The question of a blanket commitment of funds to carry out the recommendations in the report does not, therefore, arise. Any proposals for particular schemes which are put forward by the county council will, of course, be considered as sympathetically as possible. They cannot, however, be considered in isolation since demands are arising in other aeras.
Finally, may I draw the attention of the Deputy to the fact that the funds made available by my Department to the Mayo local authorities for sanitary services, housing and road works increased from £1.44 million in 1972-73 to £3.48 million in 1975. This illustrates my commitment to providing the maximum possible support for the development of the necessary infra-structural services in areas where industrial and other forms of development are taking place.
First, may I say this question was put down to the Taoiseach because of the number of Departments involved. Is the Minister aware that one of the reasons the strategy plan was commissioned by Mayo County Council was to assess the need for housing, water and sewerage facilities, roads and so on subsequent to the announcement of the Asahi project at Killala, the Hollister project at Ballina and the decision of Mayo County Council to grant permission for the construction of oil rigs at Ross, Killala, and the expansion of existing industries in the area?
Yes.
Does the Minister not agree that an emergency situation exists in this area as the capital allocated to Mayo County Council and to Ballina UDC is not sufficient for normal expenditure in this area?
No.
We have a very subdued Minister.
Will the Minister not agree that there has been continuous communication between the various bodies and Departments? Will he not now allocate sufficient money to cover the immediate emergencies that arise in this area?
I am afraid the Deputy has not followed up his original question. He asked about the development plan. He must understand that it is a matter for Mayo County Council to submit proposals arising out of that development plan if they wish to do so. With regard to the proposals they put before me in the normal way—I assume they did not take into full account the development plan when they were doing so—they have got a fair share of the amount of money available and I think Mayo County Council would be the first to admit that is so.
Is the Minister stating——
I wish to make progress with other questions. I will allow the Deputy to ask a final supplementary question.
Will the Minister not agree that a particular situation has arisen in this area—there are approximately three more—and will he not agree that the funds allocated to Mayo County Council are not adequate for the job the county council have to do?
That is not correct and the Deputy is aware of that. I understood from him that he was impressed that not only were they getting industries but that they were also getting the back-up services that would be required. The proposal is for a period up to 1991. I am sure the Deputy does not want the Government to finance it all in 1976.
Another Government will do that.
It will be another Coalition Government.
Is the Minister aware that many hundreds of people are living in caravans and mobile homes in and around the development that is taking place in the north Mayo and west Sligo areas?
I am also aware that there was no need for them to live there when other Governments were in office because there was no industry in the area. Now they are getting the industries and we will have to provide houses for them.
Is the Minister satisfied to leave them as they are?
I am calling Question No. 3.