asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department will revise the notional figure per house or per landholder which governs the allocation of grants under the local improvement schemes so as to include such people as sheep farmers in mountain areas who are excluded at present and where the cost of laying roads is extremely high.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Improvement Grants.
28.
The administration of the local improvements scheme is delegated entirely to the county councils. It is a matter for the councils to decide all matters relating to the making of grants, including the selection of schemes, the standard of work, the assessment of benefits to be afforded and the appropriate contributions, if any, to be made by landholders, subject to general instructions issued by my Department. These instructions do not contain any requirement specifying a notional figure per house or per landholder as mentioned by the Deputy.
Is the Minister aware that, because of a restriction that obtains, householders are asked to pay £600 and £700 per house? Is he aware that it is because of the importance of the sheep industry that we are trying to provide proper roads to such holdings? We are trying to keep those sheep breeders in their holdings but they are finding it very hard because of the condition of the roads. The engineers in that area have told me that the Department of Local Government are responsible.
I am telling the Deputy that that is not correct and he may go back to the engineers and tell them so.