asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the amount to be allocated to Westmeath under the Trunk Road Scheme for the financial year 1927-1928; and the amount allocated for 1926-27, and if the total amount has been paid to the Council for the latter year, and whether as all the men engaged by the Westmeath County Council as section workers, have been suspended owing to the estimate struck by this Council for 1926-27 having been exhausted, he will allocate some money immediately to the County Council mentioned for road work for the relief of distress amongst the workers now unemployed.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TRUNK ROAD SCHEME (WESTMEATH).
SEAN O LAIDHIN
The amount which it is hoped may be allocated to County Westmeath from the Road Fund under the National Road Scheme for the coming year is £36,470. The amount allocated in the present year under the same scheme was £20,480, of which £18,891 has already been paid. Apart from these grants the following grants are being made to County Westmeath for the coming year (a) towards the upkeep of main roads, £6,726, and (b) for the improvement of main roads, £8,193. The latter grant has only just been authorised and an interim notification was sent to the acting county surveyor on the 10th instant. The grant towards the upkeep of roads was notified to the County Council on the 2nd ultimo.
Will the Minister say whether any of the money to be allocated under the grants for 1927-28 can be utilised for the upkeep of roads other than main roads?
No.
Is the Minister aware that a very large number of the roads in the County Westmeath — that is, as far as the trunk road scheme is concerned — are finished, and that the County Council, at its meeting yesterday, passed a resolution asking that some of the grant be allocated to other than main roads, particularly in the Athlone urban area?