asked the Minister for Local Government the reason for no action being taken by Kilkenny County Council to improve the main road from Kilkenny to Dublin from the Fox and Goose to Flagmount where there have been many serious accidents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kilkenny-Dublin Road.
24.
I understand that Kilkenny County Council have acquired land for the improvement of a section of the road in question and if and when a suitable scheme is received it will be considered for grant having regard to the availability of funds and the priorities of other works on the national primary network.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that if a proper scheme of improvement is submitted by Kilkenny County Council it will have the automatic sanction of the Minister's Department?
No. As I said in my reply, if and when a suitable scheme is received it will be considered for grant having regard to the availability of funds and the priorities of other works on the national primary network.
Effectively, does that mean that there will not be sanction forthcoming for such a scheme despite the fact that there have been several fatal accidents on this stretch of road?
There have been many accidents on that part of the road back over the years but so far this year there has been only one accident and I trust there will not be more. What I have said does not mean that money will not be made available but until the scheme is prepared and presented to the Department and examined there, it would be foolish for anybody to say that it would be given top priority.
Can the Minister say if the priority in the examination he refers to will be the question of the provision of funds by the Department for the carrying out of improvements? Is this not the crux of the matter?
Surely the Deputy does not expect that sanction should be given to a scheme which has not been submitted yet to the Department.