asked the Minister for Local Government if he will increase road grants to Mayo County Council to have more dust-free roads, as the county has the smallest percentage of dust-free county roads of all counties.

Mayo County Council were notified of a Road Fund grant allocation of £193,270 for county road improvement purposes on 3rd April, 1969. In addition, 10 per cent of the main road improvement grant of £108,700 for 1969-70 may, with my Department's approval, be transferred for county road improvement purposes. There are no additional funds at my disposal to enable the county road improvement grant for County Mayo for 1969-70 to be increased.

Is the Minister aware that, due to the abolition of the minor relief schemes and the closing down of the rural improvement schemes, roads in the county are now deteriorating at a very rapid rate and the sum of money mentioned by the Minister is wholly inadequate?

Far from the rural improvement schemes being closed down, County Mayo did not spend its allocation.

Did the Minister not rob the Road Fund last year?

No, it is a long time ago that that happened. It was raided in the time of the Coalition and in addition it was left insolvent and we are still paying for it.

(Cavan): Could the Minister say under what circumstances this allocation was not spent? Would I be correct in thinking that it was because there was a dispute between the Minister's Department and the county council?

There was no dispute.

(Cavan): Does the Minister know why the amount was not spent?

The money was allocated and it was not spent.

(Cavan): Because the Minister would not sanction the employment of additional staff.

Their employment was sanctioned.