asked the Minister for the Environment if a special grant will be allocated in respect of Conor Pass Road, County Kerry.

The road referred to by the Deputy is a county road and, accordingly, any work undertaken on this road falls to be financed from the county council's own funds supplemented by the block grant which in the case of Kerry County Council amount to £315,000 in 1977. The timing and execution of these works is a matter for decision by the council. There are no other funds at my disposal from which additional grants could be made available this year.

Is the Minister aware that this road is collapsing and is causing great hardship to farmers in Cloghane and Castlegregory as they cannot travel to Dingle? In view of the seriousness of the situation, would the Minister consider increasing the block grant for the coming year with a special mention for this road?

As the Deputy knows, a sum of £315,000 was made available this year. I will certainly be considering the matter for the coming year but I would point out that no further funds are available for this year.

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