asked the Minister for Finance if he will make funds available from the Western Development Fund to county development teams in western counties for the improvement of bog roads and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Road Improvement.
33.
The Special Regional Development Fund is used to finance economic projects in western counties which do not come under any existing State scheme. The improvement of bog roads is already covered by the local improvements scheme and, in addition, the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment have approved a grant of £600,000 from the employment gurantee fund for this purpose. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to make funds available from the Special Regional Development Fund for the improvement of bog roads.
I understand that moneys are made available to local authorities for the maintenance and improvement of bog roads but in counties where local authorities have not completed their black-topping programmes on roads that are used constantly, they must give priority to such work.
A question, Deputy, please.
Would it not be possible to get a special grant from the regional fund for the development of such roads?
As I have indicated the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment have approved a grant of £600,000. As the Deputy has implied, the matter is one in the first instance for the local authorities and, of course, for the Department of the Environment in respect of which I understand that about £2 million is being provided in 1980. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for the Special Regional and Development Fund to be extended into this area.
How is this £600,000 to be spent?
I understand that there are a number of projects involved and that it is hoped to have details of the various road works to be undertaken finalised shortly but that is a matter for the committee to determine.
Would the Minister accept that an enormous amount of bogland is held by private owners and that there is no access to these bogs but that if there were access to them the turf harvested would make a big impact on the usage of oil for central heating?
The central development committee to which we were referring have been considering this aspect and they have passed the outcome of their considerations to the Department of Energy for examination. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department are particularly concerned in this area.
Question No. 34.
I wish to ask a question.
I shall allow a final supplementary on this question.
The Minister tells us that money is available to the local authorities by way of the local improvements scheme. Would the Minister accept that the savage cut-back in these funds this year render it impossible for local authorities to make any money available for the development of bog roads? In view of the obvious need to extract turf from our bogs would the Minister not consider again the question of making moneys available for the development of bog roads?
I do not accept that there have been cut-backs of the nature suggested by the Deputy. I would accept, though, that there have been curbs on the growth of public expenditure. If one wishes to think in terms of cut-backs one must think of them in the context of what has happened in the past number of years. The allocations this year do not rank as cut-backs especially when one thinks of those which were made, say, about four years ago.
I have called the next question.
The cut-back in the level of aid is more apparent now than was the case when the Minister was on this side of the House and when he said that, regardless of what were the budgetary constraints, cut-backs should not be effected.
We have gone on to the next question and Deputy Barry must not interrupt in this way.
The old bog road will remain the old bog road. It is difficult for us to sit here and listen to the inacurate information being given by the Minister.