asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the shortfall of finance available to Roscommon County Council to maintain existing services and staff, he will provide the necessary money to do so.

(Dublin South-East): Since resuming office, I have taken certain decisions which will help the finances of Roscommon County Council. My decision to limit increases in statutory demands on Roscommon County Council in respect of arterial drainage and supplementary welfare allowances and my decision to allow 40 per cent of the proceeds of house sales to be used for revenue purposes will, together, make £93,206 available to Roscommon County Council which they would otherwise not have had. I have also made an additional allocation of £230,000 in respect of road works.

In view of the drastic situation that exists in Roscommon, where up to 100 men have been let go from the county council and services are grinding to a halt, what steps does the Minister intend to take to provide the necessary finance for the county council, especially since the Government are providing only 91 per cent of the domestic rate to the council?

(Dublin South-East): Many local authorities find themselves in a tight liquidity situation. Regarding Roscommon County Council, other provisions in the recent budget involve additional resources for local authorities, namely, £7.8 million for sanitary services schemes, £1 million for fire services and £4.5 million for local authority housing other than in Dublin. It may be expected that some of these extra funds will be allocated to Roscommon County Council.

By any standards we are talking about very small amounts of money.

Deputies may not make speeches. Question No. 8.

8.