asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department received a copy of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of Kerry County Council requesting a grant for the erection of a permanent bridge to replace the wooden bridge at Canal, Blennerville, Tralee, and, if so, whether he has considered the proposal with a view to making the grant available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tralee Bridge.
I have received a copy of a resolution passed by the Kerry County Council indicating their intention to take over the bridge referred to and applying for a grant to carry out work of reconstruction. The matter is under consideration and I hope to have a reply issued to the county council shortly.
Out of what fund will such a grant be payable?
I did not say that a grant would be payable.
Out of what fund is the Minister considering the issue of a grant?
I am not even considering the matter of the issue of a grant at all.
That is what I thought; that is what I wanted to get.
I am not considering the making of a grant for the reconstruction of a bridge for which the county council at the present time have not legally any responsibility. If and when they come to have legal responsibility and if I should decide to give a grant to that body in respect of such work, then I will know the fund from which I will make it and I will know, I hope, that the money is there also.
I suppose that is a lesson learned in the Wicklow mines.
The Minister should not have answered the question the way he did. It was misleading.