Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 1

Written Answers. - Kildare Road Allocation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

482 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the inadequacy of the allocation received by Kildare County Council in respect of maintenance of main and county roads for 1991, he will consider a substantial increase in the allocation for such roads in 1992; if he will seek the advice of the authorities in Kildare County Council to determine the precise extent of the requirement for the next five years; the extent, if any, to which he expects to be able to respond positively to this requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

Responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of main and county roads rests with the county council in whose functional area these roads are and the cost of such work falls to be financed by the authority from its own resources, supplemented by the discretionary grants provided annually by my Department. The discretionary road grant allocation to Kildare County Council in 1991 amounts to £1.868 million including a supplementary grant of £500,000, for improvement works, because of the special needs of the county. I am satisfied that this is an equitable proportion of the overall funds available to me for such grants and I intend that the council will continue to get an equitable share of such grants in the future.