asked the Minister for the Environment why Limerick County Council is ranked only 17th in the block grant allocation list in view of the fact that they have the eighth highest mileage of county and other roads.
Written Answers. - Block Grant Allocation.
344.
Block grants are allocated to county councils to supplement the provision made by the councils from their own funds for the improvement, maintenance and management of main roads, other than national roads, for improvement works on county roads and for traffic management works including such works on national roads.
There are a number of factors to be taken into account in determining the annual allocation of block grants. Regard must be had to the overall levels of road activity in each county, including the financing of major improvement works on the national roads and special grants made available for exceptional works. County Limerick, as well as other counties, has benefited from such grants as occasion demanded. It is not correct, therefore, to suggest that road mileage is the only criterion in the assessment of grant allocations. Furthermore, the Deputy will be aware that in the normal course, each road authority receives in each year a total allocation in road grants commensurate with the overall level of funds made available for these purposes. For my part, I will make annual allocations on the most equitable and practical basis having regard inter alia to the general factors which I have outlined.