asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the rapid deterioration in the surface conditions of county roads in Connemara, County Galway; and the action he proposed to take in the matter before these roads are eventually beyond repair.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Connemara Road Repairs.
17.
Responsibility for providing for road works on county roads in Connemara rests on Galway County Council. Normally, such works fall to be financed from the local authority's own resources supplemented, in the case of improvement works, by the block grants allocated annually by my Department. The authority have wide discretion in the determination of the programme of works to be undertaken with these funds.
Is the Minister prepared to accept that the funds available to Galway County Council are not adequate to maintain these roads at the standard at which they had been maintained previously? Will the Minister accept also that a serious deterioration of these roads is taking place and that the position as I have outlined is a possibility, that is, that the roads eventually will deteriorate beyond repair with very serious consequences for the whole economy of large sections of County Galway?
I accept the Deputy's concern. As he is aware, the figures in terms of the amounts of money granted from 1980 through 1982 were substantial. The Department are concerned that not only the local authority we are talking of but all other local authorities are experiencing problems in regard to county roads. We all recognise that part of that problem is the question of finance and we will have to think, in the context of the forthcoming budget and of future budgets, in terms of resolving the situation. It is not something that can be resolved in one year.
Surely the Minister has considered his budget for the coming year.
We will be having a long discussion on the budget soon.
Can the Minister of State give any indication as to when he and the Minister for the Environment intend taking action in 1983 in regard to this very serious matter?
We will be taking action but the breakdown of road applications for 1983 has not been completed yet.
Is the Minister in a position to give some indication to the House, and in particular to Members who are also members of local authorities, as to when the allocations will be announced?
We are entering into a discussion on the Department of the Environment.
I was just asking, arising from the Minister's answer, when it is expected that the allocations will be announced.
As I think the former Minister will readily appreciate, I am not yet in a position to give that information but as soon as I have the information I will communicate it to Deputy Burke.
This must be the final supplementary on this question.
Would the Minister not agree that this is a problem we have inherited from previous Ministers and that when an application was made by Cork County Council to have roads in the county upgraded to national primary routes the application fell on deaf ears?
The Deputy is giving information rather than seeking it.
Would the Minister agree also that the conditions which obtain in County Donegal obtain also in south-west Cork?
Are Deputies on the far side of the House not aware that the financing of county roads is a matter strictly for local authorities?
(Interruptions.)
I did not interrupt anyone so I hope people will have the courtesy to allow me to speak. National, primary and secondary roads are financed fully by the State.
Is the Deputy aware that this is Question Time?
Main roads are financed to the extent of 50 per cent by the State but in most counties the public are seeking money being spent——
I do not wish to establish a wrong precedent. The Deputy is making a speech.
It is difficult enough to get in but I shall make the question short. At the time of the next allocation, will the Minister consider providing moneys to each local authority to be spent on roads at the discretion of the county engineers? I should like to explain that more.
Perhaps after Question Time the Deputy will explain it to me at some length. At the outset of my term of office, and not being party political, I recognise that the problem of county roads goes back not just one administration but at least half a dozen administrations. Rather than playing games with the situation we should endeavour to arrive at a proper and intelligent solution. I am well disposed to proposals from any part of the House that would go any way to finding that solution.
Including Deputy McLoughlin's suggestion?
We would be prepared to consider all suggestions.
I hope the Minister of State will agree that in no circumstances could the proposal but forward by Deputy McLoughlin be considered seriously. Since the Minister is nodding his head I assume that he agrees with me.