asked the Minister for the Environment if he will provide a grant to Waterford Corporation to facilitate the borough boundary extension, such as was provided in the case of Galway.
Written Answers. - Waterford Borough Boundary Extension.
35.
Legislation which is at present being prepared in my Department in relation to the programme for the general reorganisation of local government structures will provide for the making of new arrangements for the review of all urban boundaries (including county borough boundaries). The case for the further extension of the Waterford city boundary will fall to be considered when these arrangements come into operation.
The special assistance to Galway referred to by the Deputy relates to the fact that Galway County Council can no longer demand a contribution from Galway County Borough for the provision of countywide services as a result of the upgrading of Galway city to county borough status and is unrelated to the boundary extension.
36.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make additional funds available to Waterford Corporation in order that they can provide the facilities required by the City of Waterford.
Rates support grants of £2.4 million have already been notified to the corporation for 1986. When account is taken of the lifting of the supplementary welfare allowance levy this allocation represents an increase of 8 per cent in the corporation's cash resources this year. This, together with a lower rate of inflation and the fall in interest rates should considerably enhance the financial capacity of Waterford Corporation to provide services in the current year.
I might also mention that, thanks to increased financial allocations by my Department, most of the major services provided by Waterford Corporation have been expanded since the Government came to power. For example, the number of local authority houses built in that period averaged 136 compared with 83 in the 1979-82 period. State road grant payments to Waterford Corporation 1983-86 inclusive averaged £4.4 million annually compared with £1.0 million in the 1979-82 period. Over the past three years £700,000 has been granted to the corporation under the environmental works scheme.