asked the Minister for Local Government why he refused to accede to a request made by the Secretary of the Roscommon County Council on behalf of a Select Committee of the Council to receive a deputation consisting of Members of Dáil Éireann for the purpose of seeking increased road grants.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Road Grants.
28.
As explained to Roscommon County Council in reply to the request referred to, every road authority in the country would welcome an opportunity to press their claims for increased grants by way of special deputation, now that the 1963/64 scheme of Road Fund Grants is under consideration in the Department. I could not single out particular county councils for special treatment in this matter and so I have made it my practice not to see deputations about the grants in such circumstances. I am, however, always ready to consider any written representations made by the council, or by any road authority, in regard to the grants and the Roscommon County Council have been so informed.
Is it a fact that no other road authority in the past month has asked for a deputation to be heard by the Department ? Would the Minister state why he refused to hear the case of the Roscommon County Council, having first received a written representation? Would he say why he refused to receive a deputation which was in a position to put further points to him?
I have pointed out that the scheme of Road Fund grants is now under consideration in the Department and, naturally, every county council would like to get as big an allocation as possible and would welcome an opportunity to press their claim by way of special deputation. If the Minister agreed to receive a deputation from one county council, he would be likely to find himself in the position of having to receive deputations from every other council.
Is it not a fact that Roscommon County Council appointed a special sub-committee to wait on the Minister and that that sub-committee had information which made it essential that the Minister should be seen? Is it not also a fact that the council appointed the three Dáil Deputies for the county to put that information before the Minister? Surely the Minister will agree that it is anything but democratic to refuse to see public representatives in such circumstances?
Every local authority has the same opportunity.
The other local authorities did not apply. This county council applied and the Minister turned them down. It was a disgraceful performance.