asked the Minister for the Environment the criteria used in allocating funds under the Programme for Western Development for county roads.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roads Allocations.
5.
Allocations to local authorities under this programme are generally proportionate to the amounts of the block grants allocated to the county councils in question in the year before the introduction of the scheme.
Is the Minister of the opinion that that is a fair system of allocation? Is it fair to rely on the amount of the block grant? There is a complete imbalance as far as the 12 western counties are concerned and I appeal to the Minister to examine that and relate the amount of the grants to the condition of the roads and the amount of economic activity taking place in the area.
While I accept that the block grant system is not the perfect guide it represents a rough one. It is about the easiest and best way to make these allocations. An allocation of a certain sum for county roads is a reasonable indication of the needs of that county. It is reasonable to allocate additional funds on that basis.
If, as the Minister says, that is a reasonable way to allocate funds how can he explain an allocation under this scheme of £41,000 in 1981 to Leitrim and an allocation of £1.2 million to a southern county and £1.3 million to a western county? The Minister should examine the figures.
We based our allocation on what the counties were getting by way of block grant.
And we claim that that was not a fair way to do it.
It is a reasonable way to allocate funds. A block grant should indicate the need within a county. The allocations are made in a reasonably balanced manner. I admit that at the start of the block grant system some counties were getting additional funds for miles of roads with the result that there may have been an imbalance. However, counties are paid supplementary grants over and above the amount of the block grant, as the Deputy should be aware.
Is the condition of the surface of county roads taken into account when determining the amount of the allocation?
No.
Therefore, we have the unique position of the Department allocating funds on some basis that does not relate to the actual need because account is not taken of the condition of the roads. Is it true that it can arise that in certain counties where the condition of the surface of county roads is deteriorating at a rapid rate because of the Department's irrelevant method of allocating funds, money will not be granted to meet the repair of those roads? The result is that money is not allocated to areas where the greatest need exists.
It is not an irrelevant way of dealing with this matter and I am surprised that the Deputy is trying to create the impression that some counties do not have such road problems, because last week he alleged that all counties have such problems. There is a need in every county for additional funds and we felt the best way to allocate those funds was to make the additional payment on the basis of the block grant.
Do the Department acquaint themselves in any way with the condition of county roads?
The Department are kept informed of the condition of county roads by local authorities from time to time.
If a Member tables a Parliamentary Question about the condition of county roads will the Minister accept the question and responsibility for the condition of those roads?
No, I am not accepting responsibility for the condition of county roads. The Deputy is well aware——
I am well aware that the roads are deteriorating.
——that under the Deputy's regime, and every other regime, the maintenance of county roads was the responsibility of local authorities and not central Government. That is not new.