asked the Minister for Finance, in relation to the reply to parliamentary question 37 of 1 May, 1980, regarding the final report of the Queen's University study group in relation to small towns development study 1978 for County Roscommon, if he will outline the proposals, if any, to create amenities for the people in the Strokestown area and the nature of any such amenities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Strokestown (Roscommon) Amenities.
11.
As I said in my reply to the earlier question, it is not intended to publish this report. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to outline details of the consultants recommendations.
Would the Minister not agree that it is absolute waste of money to spend it on such surveys if the Government have no intention of implementing the report?
I did not say the Government have no intention of implementing it. In fact the report has been made available to the county development team in Roscommon. Only in the last few weeks, when this question was down previously, I indicated to the Deputy that I thought the report could be made available on request by them. I still believe that to be the case. It is a matter for them after that.
Would the Minister consider providing an airport for the West in Strokestown? This might be a matter for laughter on the Fine Gael benches because they do not have any concern for the west but it is not a matter for laughter on this side of the House, I am sure Deputy Burke does not share their laughter. We are concerned about development in that area.
Deputy Leyden missed the runway.
The Deputy will be aware that airport development facilities in the north -western region have been promoted actively by the Government and grants were made available recently through the Tripartite Committee to develop the needs and potential of that area. While Strokestown is a matter for the county development team, significant grants have been made available by the Tripartite Committee from the employment guarantee fund towards that particular programme.
That is much appreciated.
(Interruptions.)