asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make special moneys available to grade and roll the roads in the Clonowen area of Roscommon which are flooded during the winter.

(Dublin South-East): Exchequer assistance for improvement works on county roads is given to county councils through the annual block grant system. The disposition of this grant and the priority given to works at any particular location is entirely within the discretion of Roscommon County Council.

A unique situation exists in this area of roads being flooded for almost six months of the year and numbers of families cut off from the nearest town. If they need a priest or a doctor, they only have access by means of boats. Numerous requests have been made by the county council and I am asking the Minister ——

The Deputy cannot make a speech under the guise of a supplementary question.

I am asking the Minister a supplementary question.

Supplementary questions must be short and to the point. The Deputy must have respect for the other Members of the Dáil who wish to ask questions.

In view of the tremendous hardship there, the many requests from Roscommon County Council to have special moneys allocated for this purpose and the commitment given by the Minister's party to provide funds for this, will he now say that he is prepared to make available a special grant, either by way of block grant to the county roads scheme or by increasing the grant for local improvements scheme, so that major improvement jobs can be carried out there?

The Minister's reply has been given already to that supplementary question. We will go on to Question No. 7.

I asked the Minister——

(Dublin South-East): I will answer the Deputy.

I asked if he would consider making a grant under the local improvements scheme.

(Dublin South-East): No is the answer to that question.