asked the Minister for Local Government if he will increase the road grant for the Kerry County Council by £100,000 for the coming year to meet the rising cost of labour, material etc. as other counties half the size got the same amount as Kerry last year.

County councils were informed on 3rd instant that their main road upkeep grant for 1969-70 will continue at 50 per cent of approved expenditure and will therefore apply to any increased provision a county council may make for this purpose. Councils were also advised that their main road improvement, county road improvement and tourist road improvement grants were being kept up to the same level as last year. The allocations for arterial road improvement are being determined and will be notified shortly. In determining the overall level of grants, the allocations for particular purposes and to individual councils, all relevant factors are taken into account.