Vol. 503 No. 3
383 Mr. Power asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give a substantial increase in the discretionary funding available for country roads in view of the fact some roads and cul de sacs are practically abandoned. [9725/99]
As stated in reply to Question No. 228 of 30 March 1999, significantly increased financing has been made available in recent years aimed at systematically improving our non-national roads. I have allocated over £237 million for non-national roads in 1999, an increase of more than £37 million or nearly 19 per cent on the original 1998 allocation figure of almost £200 million and £62 million or 35 per cent on the 1997 outturn. This figure included discretionary grants to county councils of approximately £23 million, the discretionary maintenance element of which, £12.805 million, is an increase of almost 32 per cent on the 1998 discretionary maintenance grant provision of £9.7 million. This figure also included £138 million for the restoration programme, an increase of over £20 million on last year's restoration programme allocation.
All of this represents firm evidence of my continuing commitment to restore the network of regional and county roads throughout the country to a satisfactory condition.
