Funding for dangerous roads
Callanan seeks extra funding for primary roads, citing dangerous stretches and poor road conditions near Kilcock. The Parliamentary Secretary reiterates that 1977 grants will be settled in due course and compares current road allocations with those under the previous government.
Arising out of the supplementary question asked by Deputy J. O'Leary, it is a well-known fact that county councils did not get the money and there is a slow-down in the improvement of the national primary roads. Seeing that the basic roadway is shelved, whether rightly or wrongly, will the Minister take into consideration the 1977 allocations? There is a terribly dangerous road between here and the west of Ireland. Part of it is in my own county. There is also the shocking condition of the roads coming into Kilcock. Will extra money be allocated to the county councils for improving primary roads in 1977 on account of the fact that the basic road has been shelved? Will the Minister take that into consideration when making his allocations for 1977?
Comment on this
I repeat for the third time, the level of road grants for 1977 will be settled in due course. Further, may I assure Deputy Callanan that in 1972-73, when his party were in office, the allocation was £16 million for roads as against £24 million in 1976.