andSheldon asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state whether in order to enable the Donegal County Council to meet the increase in road workers' wages granted on the 27th June, 1950, and to prevent any further increase in the present high rate of 27/9 in the £ he will restore the road grant to its 1948 level by granting an additional £70,000 for the current year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Road Grant.
andFriel asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in view of the decision of Donegal County Council to grant an increase in road workers' wages, he will restore the road grant to its 1948 level by the addition of £70,000 to meet this increase in wages, together with the increase in materials, plant and other costs, and in order to obviate any further increase in the present exceptionally high rate of 27/9 in the £.
I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. The total grants available to county councils from the Road Fund for the current year have already been notified and proposals for their application to specific works approved. An appropriate increase in the road workers' wages in Donegal County could, however, be effected at an extra expenditure of about £9,000 so that the question of making a special grant of £70,000 for this purpose does not arise.
With regard to the difference of approximately £70,000 between the 1948-49 and 1950-51 Road Fund allocations in Donegal, I should like to point out that the grant made available to Donegal County Council under the Local Authorities (Works) Act for the present financial year amounts to £80,000.
Mr. Blaney
Will the Minister state what the net reduction for Donegal County Council is?
No reduction.
The grants in respect of the various years are as follows:— 1948-49: £228,553; 1949-50: £157,323; 1950-51: £159,323. The 1950-51 grants were 70 per cent. of those of 1948-49 in this county, as against an average of from 55 to 60 per cent. for the country in general.
Will the Minister state if there has been any decrease in the average annual grant out of the Road Fund of the Donegal County Council during the past 10 years?
I should have to have notice of that question, Deputy.