Vol. 396 No. 4
11 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of money which will be available in 1990 for national primary roads; the aid available for this purpose from European Structural Funds; the routes which will be funded this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The 1990 Exchequer road grant allocations for improvement works on the national primary roads amount to £108.7 million. A further £11.9 million has been allocated for maintenance works on these routes.
The estimated total EC grants for improvements to national primary roads in 1990 is £71 million. Details of major road improvements schemes to be funded by State road grants in 1990 were set out in a press statement which was issued on 8 February, 1990. Most, if not all, of these schemes will attract EC grants.
Would the Minister not agree that his targets in relation to national primary roads have not been met partly due to the shortage of staff in many local authorities when preparing particular schemes? What does the Minister propose to do to alleviate that situation?
I am surprised at the Deputy's point of view considering that I recently announced road grants to local authorities this year totalling £215.7 million, which is the highest level of State grant in real terms for roads since the foundation of the State. I do not know why the Deputy suggests that there is not a very big commitment by the Minister and the Government to the road funding programme. If the Deputy takes a look around, in any county he will see considerable roadworks in progress and local authorities have thankfully been passing votes of confidence in the Minister for the amount of money he has so generously provided in the estimates.
Only those with Fianna Fáil majorities. Many others are trying to find money to enable them fill the potholes you created in three years, by inadequate grants. The Minister knows the position about county roads.
In 1986 less than £8 million was provided by the Fine Gael-Labour Coalition for county roads nationally. This year I am providing more than £70 million.
No. 12, please.
That was after you wiped out the rates support grant for three years. The Minister is playing with the figures.
I have called No. 12. Let the interruptions cease.
