asked the Minister for Local Government the number of motor vehicles licensed for road use in each city and county not mentioned in a reply of 30th November, the amount paid in road tax by each area, and the amount allocated from the Road Fund to each area; and if he will now treat Dublin City and County on an equitable basis, having regard to the number of motor vehicles registered in these areas, by an appropriate increase in the allocation from the Road Fund.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Tax: Allocations from Road Fund.
78.
The statistical information requested is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.
Road Fund grants are not based on the number of motor vehicles registered in each area, but on the mileage and condition of roads in each case, subject to the overall limit on the amount available for distribution. Both Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council have received a substantial increase in their Road Fund allocations in recent years. The total amount of these allocations for 1961/ 62 will be about £376,000 more than in 1959/60. Furthermore, the major part of a special provision of £500,000 for the arterial roads leading out of Dublin has not yet been taken up. I cannot agree in the circumstances with the suggestion that the areas in question are inequitably treated as regards Road Fund grant.
Following is the statement:—
|
Local Authority |
No. of Vehicles under current licence at 10th August, 1960 |
Amount of Motor Tax etc. collected in financial year 1960/61 |
Total Grants |
|
£ |
£ |
||
|
County Councils |
|||
|
Carlow |
4,472 |
86,975 |
63,184 |
|
Cavan |
5,378 |
99,952 |
203,182 |
|
Clae |
5,674 |
111,566 |
316,270 |
|
Corrk |
— |
— |
— |
|
Donegal |
10,130 |
197,525 |
445,342 |
|
Dublin |
— |
— |
— |
|
Galway |
— |
— |
— |
|
Kerry |
9,483 |
181,941 |
289,280 |
|
Kildare |
8,197 |
145,174 |
162,892 |
|
Kilkenny |
— |
— |
— |
|
Laois |
6,142 |
107,776 |
128,135 |
|
Leitrim |
3,003 |
57,864 |
187,364 |
|
Limerick |
— |
— |
— |
|
Longford |
2,932 |
56,507 |
107,038 |
|
Louth |
7,656 |
141,312 |
86,028 |
|
Mayo |
7,723 |
157,591 |
340,471 |
|
Meath |
8,447 |
151,246 |
168,230 |
|
Monaghan |
5,058 |
90,565 |
177,600 |
|
Offaly |
6,003 |
101,669 |
106,768 |
|
Roscommon |
4,268 |
80,450 |
205,717 |
|
Sligo |
4,348 |
85,702 |
178,302 |
|
Tipperary N.R. |
6,837 |
124,695 |
140,153 |
|
Tipperary S.R. |
8,264 |
156,374 |
154,292 |
|
Waterford |
— |
— |
— |
|
Westmeath |
5,337 |
98,049 |
116,328 |
|
Wexford |
11,310 |
184,384 |
170,640 |
|
Wicklow |
7,134 |
123,909 |
142,013 |
|
£3,889,229 |
79.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider making arrangements to have the roads of Ireland re-classified so as to enable a more equitable distribution of money from the Road Fund to be made.
I have had in mind for some time the making of arrangements for a review of the existing system of road classification and I intend to have such a review undertaken as soon as my Department's engineering staff can give time to the task.