asked the Minister for Local Government whether he proposes to allocate a grant for the repair of the roadway from Tyrrellspass to Athlone; and what is the present position in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Westmeath Road Repair Grant.
35.
Special grants of £40,000 and £20,000 have been allocated to Westmeath and Offaly County Councils respectively in the current year for improvement works on the sections of the Dublin-Galway road, T.4, in their areas. In the case of the Westmeath grant the actual section or sections to be dealt with have not yet been finally decided. The Offaly grant will be spent on the Springfield-Horseleap section of the road. These special allocations, which are additional to the councils' other road improvement grants—£112,180 in the case of Westmeath County Council and £94,500 to Offaly County Council—are the maximum possible in the current year in view of the resources available and the demands of other road authorities.
Will the Minister say whether any specific grant has been made for the repair of portion of the road from Tyrrellspass to Athlone or did I understand him to say that it has not yet been decided how to allocate the Westmeath portion of the grant?
In the case of the Westmeath grant, the actual section or sections to be dealt with have not yet been finally decided.
May I take it the local authority can decide or is it a matter for the Department?
I think it is a matter for some further discussion with the Department.