asked the Minister for the Environment if an allocation of money for bog roads and drainage will be provided in this year's allocation for local improvement schemes.
18.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Improvement Schemes.
17.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will request each county council to keep a register of applications for grant aid under the local improvement scheme indicating the date of application and the approximate cost.
19.
asked the Minister for the Environment (a) the total allocation and (b) the allocation to County Donegal in respect of local improvement schemes.
20.
asked the Minister for the Environment if there are any further restrictions in relation to local improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any intention of changing the system of distribution of local improvement scheme grant moneys within local authority areas.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 21 inclusive, together.
In 1984, the Government are providing £2.15 million for grants under the local improvements scheme in respect of farm road projects eligible for EEC aid under the western package. The 1984 scheme does not apply to projects (such as drainage schemes and works on bog roads) which do not come within the scope of the package. EEC aid is conditional on a minimum local contribution of 10 per cent from benefiting land holders and is confined to the western counties. Local authorities were notified by circular letter to this effect on 19 December 1983. The authorities concerned were notified of their allocations on 24 February 1984. The allocation to Donegal County Council is £288,500.
Regarding applications under the scheme, I do not propose to alter the established practice of giving local authorities discretion relating to the manner of inviting and processing applications, including the question of the stage at which the cost of a project is estimated.
The Minister specifically restricted the scheme this year to schemes eligible for EEC grant aid as well. As the sum amounts to only £2.15 million, does the Minister not see the logic in granting additional sums to the local improvements scheme from social welfare funds to provide jobs for very necessary schemes and works?
The Minister for the Environment cannot allocate money from social welfare funds to this area. However, as I said, the task force are considering methods by which the section of social welfare to which taxation is contributed by the Minister for Finance can be used for the purposes which the Deputy have mentioned.
When does the Minister expect the task force, to which he has referred twice today, to be available and taking decisions?
I cannot give that information to the Deputy. The task force are continuing their work in this area which has, naturally, been interrupted by the European elections but they work on a weekly basis and I hope there will be results fairly soon.
Does the Minister accept that to give an excuse that there is an election at present and that Ministers are electioneering and not tackling the nation's business with nearly a quarter of a million unemployed——
That is argument.
Would they not be better occupied doing what they are paid to do?
That is not the question.
It is very much the question. The Minister is telling us that they are not prepared to tackle the nation's business because they are electioneering.
The Chair is ruling that that is argument and he is calling Question No. 22.