asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state (a) the total amount of money spent in the financial year 1949-50 by the Roscommon County Council on schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, and (b) the amount sanctioned for the present year.

(a) According to returns furnished to my Department, a sum of £28,205 was expended by the Roscommon County Council in the financial year 1949-50 on the execution of works under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949.

(b) A final figure for the grant to be allocated in 1950-51 has not yet been determined. An interim grant of £15,000 has been notified.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether it is a fact that the necessary financial aid was refused to the Roscommon County Council for the purpose of undertaking further useful schemes last year?

No. Last year there was no difficulty at all about the issue of money for schemes which were appropriate to the Act, which did not necessitate large surveys and which could be completed before the 31st March of this year.

I take it then that if the local authority had fulfilled the conditions mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary, they could have secured grants for many further necessary schemes. Is that right?

I should be glad if the Parliamentary Secretary would state correctly what happened. The county council was refused authority to go ahead with any works except under the A scheme, which concerns road flooding.

That is untrue. A lot of councillors thought that only A schemes could be undertaken. That was absolutely incorrect.

I read the communication last Saturday.

I should like to see that communication.