asked the Minister for the Environment the amount of money allocated for work on the national primary route from Bundoran To Donegal town in 1981; and the amount that will be allocated for this work in 1982.

The road grants totalling £4.475 million allocated to Donegal County Council in 1981 included a sum of £1,476,277 for improvement works on the section of road referred to by the Deputy. In addition, it was open to the county council to determine the amount to be spent on maintenance work on this section of road within the allocation of £310,000 notified for maintenance works on national primary routes.

I am not in a position at present to indicate the level of grants that will be made available in 1982 for work on this section of road.

In view of the fact that a very substantial portion of the road from Bundoran to Donegal town has now been completed, will the Minister give an assurance that no reduction will be made in the 1982 allocation for this roadway, even to the detriment of other areas in the county?

I could not give that assurance, especially if it would be to the detriment of other areas within the county, because that would be a matter for the county council.

We have been told by engineers in Donegal County Council that the Department of the Environment specify where allocations are to be spent on national, primary and national secondary routes. It seems to me that the Minister has the say, not Donegal County Council.

That is correct, but the Deputy asked me if I took money from another section of roads in County Donegal and reallocated it to this. I would not like to do that without the county council making an application to have it done.

Can I take it from the Minister's reply that he has not yet decided where the allocations will be made for the national primary routes in Donegal?

That is correct.

Can the Minister give me an assurance that money will be provided for that national primary route that is under development in County Donegal?

The allocations have not been decided on yet. I will be notifying all councils within the next month what their allocations are.

Can I take it that Donegal will get money for that national primary route which is under construction?

The Deputy cannot take anything yet until the allocations are decided.