asked the Minister for Local Government whether recoupment grants are payable to local authorities for snow clearance and sanding against ice-skidding; and, if so, the amounts paid to each local authority for either of these purposes in 1962-63 and 1963-64, and the basis on which the payments were calculated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Snow Clearance and Road Sanding Grants.
35.
Grants are payable for this work in the normal course in the case of main roads. Local authorities charged with the maintenance of main roads receive an annual Main Road Upkeep Grant from the Road Fund at the rate of 50 per cent of their expenditure on such maintenance, including any expenditure that may be incurred on the treatment of these roads to deal with snow and ice conditions.
As regards the exceptionally severe winter conditions of 1962/63, and in deference to the representations of a number of county councils whose areas were very severely affected, I made arrangements for a special grant in respect of snow clearance work on main roads, at the rate of 75 per cent of the excess expenditure incurred by local authorities on this work, that is, expenditure over and above the normal maintenance provision in respect of these roads for that year. While final returns of this expenditure have not yet been submitted in all cases, it is estimated that the additional charge falling on the Road Fund as a result of this concession will be about £34,000.
No special grants for such work were allocated in respect of last winter.