asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make a special grant available to Carlow County Council to acquire land for the provision of a car park at Tullow.

I have received a request from Carlow County Council for financial assistance for the scheme to which the Deputy refers and I will bear it in mind in my consideration of the road grant allocations for 1983.

Is it normal for the Department to make special grants available to councils for amenity schemes such as these?

The grant to which the Deputy referred related to car parking adjacent to National Secondary Route N 81. It is within the ambit of my Department, if the money is available, to make such a grant available.

Is the Minister aware that there is very severe traffic congestion in the Tullow area, that it is urgently desired that a car park be provided and that preliminary work for the acquisition of the land is well advanced?

I will keep the Deputy's remarks in relation to traffic congestion in mind when looking at the allocations being made.

Is the Minister prepared to give it special consideration?

Yes, I will give it consideration.