asked the Minister for the Environment the action he will take to deal with the rapidly deteriorating condition of county roads throughout the country.
573.
Written Answers. - Roads Repairs and Maintenance.
572.
asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department will make funds available in 1985 for the repair and maintenance of county roads.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 573 together. Expenditure on the improvement of county roads falls to be financed by local authorities from their own resources (including the rate support grants) and is supplemented by a block grant paid annually by my Department. The overall block grant allocation this year has been increased by 10 per cent. The selection of improvement works to be carried out with these funds is entirely at the discretion of each local authority. I am not in a position to provide any additional funds in the current year.
In accordance with established practice under successive Governments, it is not proposed to make State grants available for county road maintenance. Expenditure under this heading will continue to be financed by local authorities from their own resources (including the rate support grants).