asked the Minister for Local Government the amount of tourist road grants allocated to County Wexford in the past three years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Tourist Road Grants.
39.
County Wexford is not one of the counties participating in the tourist road grant scheme which has been confined since its inception to 11 counties in the Gaeltacht and congested areas. Special grants have, however, been made available to the Wexford County Council from the Road Fund to assist them in carrying out improvements to the Rosslare-Wexford Road because of its tourist importance which has been enhanced by the provision of the drive-on car ferry terminal at Rosslare. One such grant, amounting to £20,000, was allocated within the past three financial years.
Can the Minister say why County Wexford does not qualify for tourist grants?
I pointed out that tourist grants as such have been confined to 11 counties in congested areas, and Wexford is not one of those counties. That is why.
I am aware that they are confined to 11 counties. Can the Minister say why we are excluded in Wexford? Why not make it 12?
These were made available on the basis of special provisions for these counties which need special provision.
Why should they have any tourist advantage over and above Wexford? That is all I am asking.
These extra grants are made available because of special conditions that exist in these congested areas.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that congested areas were defined as far back as the beginning of this century, and that conditions have changed very much since then? Would the Minister consider revising the definition of congested areas?
That is a separate question.
I do not think any such revision would bring Wexford in.