asked the Minister for Local Government if he will provide special additional funds as a matter of urgency for the repair, better lighting and general improvement of the national primary road at Riverstown, Glanmire, County Cork, which now constitutes a serious hazard to motor vehicles and pedestrians, especially school children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Road.
3.
Consideration will be given to the financing of road improvement works at this location when acceptable proposals have been received from Cork County Council. While funds available to me for Road Fund grants in 1977 have already been fully allocated, it would be open to the council to consider financing the works from funds available to them for road works.
Is the Minister aware that this is a dangerous hazard and that no moneys have been allocated by the Minister this year to deal with it despite special representations by Cork County Council?
I am aware that there is heavy traffic on this road and that it is narrow and tortuous, but I am also aware that Cork County Council have got £440,500 in 1977 more than in 1976. Grants for improvements works on national primary roads have been increased from £100,000 to £300,000. There is no provision for expenditure in this location because it was not listed by Cork County Council as one which they felt to be in that priority situation. As the Deputy is aware, quite a substantial amount of money has been given by way of block grants to the county council, and if they consider that some of it can be usefully allocated to this location they are entitled to do so.
On several occasions I have mentioned this location for special attention, particularly with regard to lighting.
I accept that the Deputy has been making representations, as have other Cork Deputies and councillors. Cork is a very big county and we have given them a big amount of money. I have had representations for sufficient money to be spent in Cork to deplete the entire Road Fund and there would not be any possibility of giving Cork County Council the amount of money they require.
The Minister has given them only a fraction of what they want. In proportion to what he has given to County Meath the Minister has given them nothing.
Everything being equal, County Meath will get a fair share. Cork are getting an awful lot more than when the Deputy's party were in Government. They were getting practically nothing then and it is a wonder the Deputy did not put some pressure on his own Minister for Local Government. If he did, he got very little heed. I am sure the Cork newspapers will look well tomorrow.