asked the Minister for Local Government if he will reintroduce the scheme for grants for the upkeep of bog roads as these roads are not being dealt with under the local improvement scheme because local contributions are not forthcoming.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Road Grants.
50.
I am satisfied that the terms under which grants are available under the local improvements scheme for the improvement of bog roads are fair and reasonable and I do not propose to introduce an alternative scheme.
Is the Minister aware that the situation has now become serious because the cost of fuel is very high and many people would avail of the supply of turf if the mountain roads could be repaired by way of grant? Locals will not make a contribution towards a road which is far from them.
I find it difficult to believe what the Deputy is trying to get across because I have checked in his own constituency in Leitrim and there is no evidence that bog roads do not get a reasonable share of the grants under the new scheme in his constituency. As a matter of interest in 1971-72 offers of grants issued for 17 bog roads and 15 of those were, in fact, accepted under the scheme and £13,000 was expended on those roads in County Leitrim, in the Deputy's area.
The roads the Minister refers to are not mountain roads.
Bog roads.
Bog roads, yes.
Is the Minister aware that the grants allocated to the west of Ireland for local improvement schemes were cut by over 50 per cent and, therefore, bog roads cannot be repaired and drainage cannot be undertaken? There is need for employment there. In view of the fact that the Minister comes from the west of Ireland, we cannot understand why this decision has been made, when he allocated in County Mayo £140,000 last year and allocated only £60,000 this year for such development.
The Deputy is talking a lot of rubbish. He knows well that the Minister more than doubled the allocation to County Mayo last year and that quite a lot of schemes which have built up over the years were cleared last year because of the exceptionally high allocation made.
I want to assure the Minister that I, as a member of Mayo County Council, am not talking rubbish. We have very little respect for the Minister as a west of Ireland man for cutting our allocation last year.
Could the Minister give us the percentages allocated under local improvement schemes to show whether they have remained static in the last year or if there has been an upward or downward trend?
That is a separate question.
It is not. It is the same thing.
The question deals with bog roads.
A similar question was answered last week, if the Deputy is really interested. I do not believe he is.