I propose to take Questions Nos. 944 and 945 together.
The local government fund general purpose grant allocated to Mayo County Council for 2004 amounted to €29,752,341. This grant represents an increase of 17.5% over the corresponding grant for 2003. In determining this grant I was conscious of the demands on the council arising, inter alia, from the landslide in the north Mayo area.
I have notified the council that the significantly increased 2004 grant may be used to contribute to the carrying out of such works as it considers necessary to prevent a recurrence of the landslide.
The total non-national road grant allocation, announced yesterday, for Mayo County Council in 2004 is €20,945,500, representing an increase of 13% over the 2003 allocation. Included in this allocation is a special grant of €1.46 million for the improvement, repair and protection of roads and bridges in the area affected by the landslide. In addition, a grant of €571,000 was provided in 2003 by my Department to Mayo County Council for immediate remedial works to non-national roads and bridges as a result of the damage caused by the landslide.
My Department is also continuing to recoup Mayo County Council 90% of the cost of providing emergency accommodation to households affected by the landslide.