asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to grant a larger sum of money in future towards rural improvement schemes, as there are many groups of people who made contributions toward those schemes and were told that any contribution sent in now could not be considered until 1st April 1965.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvement Schemes.
18.
An additional £50,000 was provided for these schemes in the current financial year. In considering the provision for next year due regard will be had to the continuing demand for grants, but it is not yet possible to say what the provision will be.
Is the Minister aware that there are many people sadly disappointed, due to the fact that when they were ready or prepared to undertake——
The Deputy is not asking a question.
He is asking "Is the Minister aware?"
That phrase before anything would make it a question.
There are many people sadly disappointed, due to the fact that they had to wait two years in nearly all cases before they got this scheme finalised and sanctioned and then they found eventually when it was all right that they were late. Since the Local Authorities (Works) Act has been done away with, this is the only means of getting the work done and it is very sad that there should not be more money——
That is a statement.
I am asking the Minister if he could make more money available to have these schemes carried out. That is the purpose of this question. People are sadly disappointed when there is not more money to back up these schemes.
As I told the Deputy, the Minister for Finance has given an extra £50,000 this year and we are absolutely inundated with applications, due to the increased prosperity of the country generally.
Is it not a really good sign when you are inundated and should there not be even more money allocated, seeing that the Local Authority (Works) Act has been done away with? It is the only means we have of getting this work done.
I should also remind the Deputy that Deputy Sweetman when Minister for Finance, did not treat these applicants too leniently.
I think that more money was granted in 1956/57 than you granted this year.
In 1956/57 the Deputy gave £247,000 and I am now giving £267,000.
Is there any indication of whether the same volume of work can be produced now for the same amount of money? Is there any comparison between costs in 1956/57 and costs now?
I should have stated also that Deputy Sweetman, as Minister, had the National Development Fund to raid.
Mr. Browne
: In view of the fact that the sums allocated are inadequate, generally speaking, in western counties, would the Parliamentary Secretary consider the feasibility of asking the Minister for Local Government to permit local councils, such as Mayo County Council, to allocate the Road Fund for the further development of those roads?