asked the Minister for Local Government whether grants for main or other road improvement works are paid to local authorities in advance of the work being carried out; or whether they are paid by way of recoupment to the local authority concerned after such local authority has itself expended the amount involved out of its own moneys.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Improvement Grants.
35.
Road Fund grants are paid to road authorities in instalments, according as the progress of work warrants.
But they are paid in instalments in recoupment of money paid already, or are they paid in advance?
Not generally in advance, although I think that sometimes, towards the end of a year, advance payments might occur.
Is it possible that it could be correct that a sum of £30,000 was, on the 31st March, 1961, paid in advance to Kildare County Council for road improvement works?
I say it could be but, generally, I think the pattern follows the work being done or the part of the work being done and the relevant documents submitted by the county manager and inspected by the local inspector.
In 1956 we had most of the 1957 money spent before the election.
The Parliamentary Secretary is not very accurate in that. Is the Minister aware that certain county managers are alleging that their credit balances include substantial payments in advance for road works, including, I might add, the manager of the Minister's own county?
That is quite possible. Generally the pattern follows that suggested by the Deputy, that they are not paid in advance but, towards the end of a year or in a year when a scheme of works, by consent of the Minister for Local Government, is left over from one financial year to another, it is quite possible such moneys could be in credit.