Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Roads Funding.

John McGuinness

Question:

369 Mr. J. McGuinness asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason for the level of the non-national roads grant allocation for 2000 to Kilkenny Corporation; if the grants for Kilkenny city are on a par with similar urban centres; the reason for the base from which the Department works in respect of the Kilkenny case; and if he will review the situation and make an extra grant in 2000 in view of the need to substantially increase this grant. [12516/00]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

A total of £16.02 million has been allocated in block grants to urban authorities in 2000, an increase of over 14% on the 1999 allocation. Block grant allocations to individual authorities are determined, as in previous years, on the basis of town size within various population bands. Variability in urban road grant allocations may of course arise from the requirements of specific road schemes which are assisted outside of the block grant programme.

Kilkenny Corporation's non-national road grant allocation in 2000 is £137,000 which represents an increase of 20% on its 1999 allocation.

Non-national road grants for 2000 have been allocated to local authorities and there are no funds at the disposal of my Department from which further grants could be made available to the corporation.