asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the serious financial difficulties imposed on the vast majority of county councils and on ratepayers because the total amount of road fund grants allocated by him to county councils is not keeping pace with the increasing costs of carrying out road works with the result that the rate in the £1 for roads is increasing annually; and if he has any proposals to increase road fund grants substantially in 1977.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Fund Grants.
25.
I am not so aware. County councils, while they are statutorily responsible for the improvement and the upkeep of public roads within their jurisdiction are now required only to finance in full the upkeep of county roads. The full cost of all works on national roads is met from Road Fund grants. The cost of the improvement and upkeep of other main roads and the improvement of county roads is met from the rates resources of the county councils supplemented by the block grants. I increased these grants in 1976 by 25 per cent. I have indicated already that the grant allocations for 1977 have not yet been determined.
Is the Minister aware that the amount of the Road Fund grants allocated by him has decreased by approximately 40 per cent in real terms between the years 1974 and 1976?
I am aware that in 1972-73 the total amount of expenditure was £26,627,000 and that in 1976 the amount was £50 million.
What is the Minister's opinion of the breakdown published in a national newspaper yesterday?
I do not believe everything I read in newspapers and I would advise the Deputy to be discerning in this regard, too.
Are the people believing everything that is emanating recently from the Government Front Bench.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Is the Minister aware that the total amount allocated for the Road Fund grant has decreased in real terms by approximately 40 per cent since 1974?
I have not the percentage the Deputy mentions but I have given him interesting figures. These were that from 1972-73 the expenditure in this area has increased from £26,627,000 to £50 million in 1976. That is a sizeable amount of money. As Deputy Faulkner is aware, the building and upkeep of national primary and national secondary roads are paid for completely by the State and that, in addition, the block grants that are allocated to local authorities can be spent in whatever way the local authorities consider best.
Is the Minister aware that the condition of the roads is deteriorating weekly as a result of not sufficient finance being made available by the Government for this work?
That is the truth of the situation.
It is a lot of clap-trap. I thought Fianna Fáil were in favour of reducing public expenditure.
Yes, but in the right direction and not for propaganda purposes.