asked the Minister for the Environment how he intends to spend the extra £8 million allocated for road development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

26.

asked the Minister for the Environment how the additional Exchequer allocation of £8 million for road improvements will be spent; if the allocation has been divided between improvements and new road projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.

It is assumed that the questions refer to the additional allocation of £8 million for improvements on national and major urban roads, which was provided in this year's budget. The 1984 road grant allocations notified to local authorities on 24 February 1984 took account of the total of the funds available to me for road works at that time, including the £8 million announced in the budget. A separate breakdown of the allocation of the extra £8 million is not available.

Will that £8 million be sufficient to keep up to date the national road development plan in the famous blue book?

This is an additional £8 million and we hope not only to keep the blue book proposals up to date but to accelerate them.

Will the Minister confirm that the road development plan is up to date, that the construction phase for 1984 has been reached and that the allocations have been updated?

The road allocations for last year and this year have been increased over the allocations made by Deputy Burke's Government so as to ensure that the road plan is kept up to date and accelerated.

Are there still funds available for new works which could commence during 1984?

The allocations were made on 24 February for all the funds available. Whether any money becomes available towards the end of the year will depend on how the funds are spent.

We are all aware that certain local authorities do not spend as much of the funds allocated to them as others. Has the Minister considered a reallocation or reassessment, particularly in regard to the Curragh road which has been built but not opened?

It is too early to say whether local authorities can spend the allocations made to them. That review will take place much later in the year.

Question No. 27 postponed.

28.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider making special grants available for regional road improvements in County Kildare, with particular reference to the urgent need to carry out repairs to bridges at Kilcock, Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge, Sallins and Naas.

The special grants to Kildare County Council in 1984 for regional roads, amounting to £450,000 are for works on the Naas-Blessington and Kilcock to Clane roads. There are no funds at my disposal from which grants for further works can be made available this year.

The council have submitted proposals for bridge works, which are at present the subject of examination by my Department. If the proposals are found to be acceptable I will consider making a grant available towards the costs in due course.

What progress can the Minister report on the planning of the Lucan-Leixlip by-pass and of what relevance are the bridge works?

That is a separate question.

I hate to be in any way argumentative but there is reference to regional road improvements and the urgent need to repair several bridges. One hardly repairs a bridge if one does not intend to use it.

The Chair fully appreciates Deputy Burke's position but would suggest that he should relate supplementaries to the question on the Order Paper.

Is it intended to carry on the work of repairing the bridge in Leixlip in view of the fact that the councils in the area intend to by-pass Leixlip? What progress has been made on the by-pass?

I will consider making grants available towards the cost if the proposals are found to be acceptable when sent to me.

Excellent work has been done on the primary route to the west and I would ask what stage has been reached in the plans for this urgently needed by-pass?

The council's proposals for the bridge at Leixlip are expected to cost about £45,000 and are under consideration.