asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the importance of turf cutting in the economy of the country, if he will agree to a request by the Donegal County Council for a special allocation of £250,000 for the repair of bog roads.
Written Answers. - County Donegal Bog Roads.
455.
I understand from Donegal County Council that the work involves the maintenance of county roads. Paragraph 3.8 of the new road plan, Policy and Planning Framework for Roads points out that, “in accordance with established practice, State grants will not be available for county road maintenance”. Local authorities will continue to meet this expenditure from their own resources, including the rate support grants. In the allocation of State funds emphasis will continue to be placed on the improvement and maintenance of the national road network and of major urban roads. For these reasons I do not propose to make a special allocation for the proposed work.