asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make public lighting a charge on his Department.

The cost of an approved scheme for the provision or improvement of public lighting on main traffic routes in built-up areas may be met from road grants. I have no proposals to make road grants available towards the annual running costs of public lighting.

Is the Minister aware that municipal authorities have passed motions continually for the past eight years requesting that public lighting on national routes, which would benefit the whole country, should be a charge on his Department rather than on the over-burdened local authority? Would he look again at this in view of the continual requests made and the absence of any action on his part?

As the Deputy realises, there is a limit to the purse at my disposal. If more money becomes available I will look at it again but I could not give any undertaking on this matter.