asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the Donegal County Manager's recommendation to the Finance Committee dated 3rd February, 1964, in relation to roads policy, wherein the County Manager refers to a letter from his Department regarding insufficient monies being made available by the Council for the proper upkeep of county roads; if he agrees that the future maintenance of reconstructed county roads will be a hundred per cent. charge on county rates, and that £127,000 per annum will be needed to service these roads by 1970; and if he will make a general statement concerning the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Upkeep of County Roads.
65.
I have seen the report referred to. I am not clear how the figure of £127,000 is arrived at. It seems to me to be an unduly high estimate of the probable cost to the council by 1970 of the annual county road surface dressing programme, assuming that present trends continue and that there is no change in the policy by which the capital cost of improving county roads is met by the State and the subsequent maintenance cost is met by the county councils. On the general question of the future incidence of cost, the present position is that a review of the roads programme is in progress and it is not possible to make a statement at this stage about possible future changes in the grants system.
The mileage of dust-free county roads in Donegal has doubled since 1957. In the same period there was an increase of over 50 per cent in road fund grants to the county from £348,366 to £526,356, including an increase of 10 per cent in the main road upkeep grant. The corresponding increase in the rates provision for ordinary road works was less than 20 per cent. There is a clear picture of impressive progress in this period, particularly as regards county roads, at relatively little cost to local rates. Of all roads expenditure in Donegal in 1962/63, 72 per cent was met by the State and 28 per cent out of local resources.
Does the Minister really think that the ratepayers of Donegal believe that statement?
Question No. 66.
What I think of what the people in Donegal would believe is quite different from what I would expect the Deputy to think.
I have not had to come into this House to experience the Minister's bad manners. I experienced them before. We are not amused.
These are true figures.
The Minister should learn decent courtesy. It is time he learned manners.
The Deputy should set up a class.
You have little to say about manners after the last few weeks in the Dáil.
Deputy Harte will allow me to conduct business. Question No. 66.
He wants to take charge of the House.