Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 4

Written Answers. - Discretionary Grant Allocations.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

170 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the commitment in the 1994 Budget and, subsequently in the debate on a private members' motion in Dáil Éireann, the measures, if any, he proposes to introduce to alleviate the condition of county and secondary roads in counties Monaghan and Cavan, especially in view of the needs of these two counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. M. Smith)

Substantial discretionary grant allocations have been made to Monaghan and Cavan Councils in 1994, amounting to £2.102 million and £3.08 million respectively. These allocations include supplementary maintenance grants of £408,000, Monaghan, and £495,000, Cavan, from the additional £15 million allocated in the budget to assist local councils in carrying out works arising from adverse weather experienced during 1993 and early this year. The allocations also include supplementary grants for improvement works of £425,000, Monaghan, and £950,000, Cavan, in recognition of the poor road conditions and special needs of these counties.

In addition to the allocations already notified, specific grants will be made available to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils for improvement works which are important to the generation of economic activity and employment. An additional sum of £33.6 million, representing some 50 per cent of the grants already allocated for non-national roads, will be allocated to local authorities for these works this year. I am examining local authorities' applications for these grants and I will notify allocations as soon as possible.