asked the Minister for the Environment if he will remove the 10 per cent minimum local contribution for local improvement schemes which was introduced in 1982 in view of the serious hardship it is causing to many householders in the western counties who cannot now afford to have their local roads repaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Following the adaptation of the Local Improvements Scheme to take account of EEC aid available under the western package for farm roads it was necessary last year to advise the county councils concerned that:

(a) a specified minimum amount of their allocation should be devoted to farm road projects;

(b) that a minimum local contribution of 10 per cent, which is a necessary condition for EEC aid, would apply to farm road projects.

In the case of that portion of their allocations not devoted to western package projects, it is open to county councils to apply the general principles of the scheme, which in appropriate circumstances may include a lower rate of or no local contribution, to other local improvement schemes.

The provision for the Local Improvements Scheme for 1983, including the question of what funds may be available for particular elements which do not qualify under the western package, is being considered in the context of the determination of the Estimates generally for this year.

Is the Minister aware that in practice the 10 per cent requirement is mandatory now? The second part of his answer did not apply last year and because of that may I ask does he now subscribe to the principle that if you are poor and cannot afford to pay the 10 per cent you will not get your roads repaired? If he does not he will have to remove the 10 per cent requirement which has been a major disaster for hundreds of householders along the west coast.

I do not subscribe to the principle that if you do not have the money you should not get any benefit, but I would point out to the Deputy that in the areas to which I was referring the 10 per cent is not part of the legal requirement. If it has become the practice at local authority level, then it is up to the local authority members, who have the power to ensure that the poor are not discriminated against in the way he has mentioned.

The Minister is not on top of his brief on this particular issue. I have gone into this in great detail——

We cannot have a statement on it.

The Minister is not giving the House accurate information. Each local authority is required by the Department to charge 10 per cent on the moneys available under the local improvement scheme and because of this poor people in my constituency have not been able to avail of the scheme to have the roads repaired. I am asking this socialist Minister for the Environment to remove this 10 per cent requirement——

The Deputy is very much out of order now.

Would the Minister agree that it was a serious mistake ever to introduce it or agree to it? I appeal to the Minister to indicate now that he will very seriously consider examining all of this matter and that he will remove the 10 per cent requirement if he agrees with what I am saying that poor people have been denied and are being denied the benefit of the scheme.

We cannot have a speech on it now.

It is a very important matter——

It probably is but we must move on. Question No. 22.

Could I have a reply to the question which I put to the Minister? I do not want to bring him back on the Adjournment.

If the Minister wishes to answer.

The 10 per cent, as the Deputy realises, is as I understand it a requirement of the western package as an EEC condition in return for which we get EEC money.

But we could change that requirement.

I shall certainly look into it.

22.