asked the Minister for the Environment when it is intended to complete work on the Shore Road, Killybegs, County Donegal.

176.

asked the Minister for the Environment if his Department will be recommending an allocation towards the completion of the Shore Road, Killybegs, County Donegal, as it is the termination of the national secondary route.

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 174 and 176 together.

The question of the financing of this work from the funds available to me for the construction of public roads is being examined.

175.

asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the seriously declining standard of county roads in County Donegal, he will allow Donegal County Council more flexibility in allocating a greater percentage of the overall allocation to such roads.

I do not propose to change the existing conditions governing road grants. Under these conditions road authorities are required to utilise grants on the programmes and schemes for which the grants are specifically notified. In the case of block grants, which supplement the provisions made by county councils from their own resources, for improvement and maintenance works on main roads and for improvement works on county roads, the councils already have wide discretion in the determination of the programme of works to be undertaken.