asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allocate and restore tourist road grants for County Kerry during the 1986 financial year for obvious reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Road Works.
51.
The system of allocating road improvement grants specifically for tourist roads was discontinued in 1973-74 and absorbed into the system of block grants introduced around that time. I do not propose to alter this arrangement.
52.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will up-grade roads in south Kerry, west Kerry and east Kerry, having regard to submissions made by Kerry County Council during the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The classification of the national primary and secondary road system is now generally regarded as established, having been formally declared in 1977 following a long process of evaluation and consultation. Submissions subsequently made to my Department by Kerry County Council requesting the upgrading of a number of roads to national secondary status have been examined but, having regard to the criteria used to designate national roads, it is considered that reclassification is not warranted.
53.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a special grant available to carry out substantial improvement works to the road from Poulgorm Bridge at Clonkeen on the Cork-Killarney road to Kenmare through Kilgarvan village during 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the road in question is a regional road, primary responsibility for the planning and execution of any improvement works on the road, including the timing and the provision of the necessary finance, rests with Kerry County Council. The council may, at its discretion, use the block grant for roads to supplement expenditure from its own resources for such works. In addition, in the current year, as a special measure, I made a road grant commitment of £150,000 available to the council for the strengthening of regional roads throughout the county. I understand that this road is included in the council's current programme of works to be carried out with the aid of this grant.
54.
asked the Minister for the Environment the present position regarding the submissions made by Kerry County Council for the carrying out of major improvement works to the road from the junction of Cork road with the Spa-Teernaboul road as far as the entrance to the industrial estate in Ballyspillane, Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter, setting out when funds will be allocated by his Department for these works having regard to the urgency of the proposals.
It is understood that the road in question is a county road. Responsibility for the planning and execution of any improvement works on the road, including the timing and the provision of the necessary finance, rests with Kerry County Council. The council may, at their discretion, use the block grant for roads to supplement expenditure from its own resources on such improvement works. In the circumstances, the question of submissions to my Department relating to major improvement works on county roads does not arise.
55.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he has approved a financial allocation for the repair of a road (details supplied) in County Galway, which is the subject of a local improvement scheme allocation to Galway County Council.
Galway County Council were notified of an allocation of £220,000 under the local improvements scheme for 1985. Subject to compliance with the guidelines issued by my Department, the administration of the scheme, including the selection and timing of projects to be undertaken, is a matter entirely for the council.