asked the Minister for the Environment if he will allocate moneys to Cavan County Council for the realignment of the Kingscourt/Carrickmacross Road, which has been the scene of a number of fatal accidents in recent years.

The road in question is a main road. Responsibility for the planning, execution and timing of works on the road, including the provision of the necessary finance, rests, therefore, with Cavan and Monaghan County Councils who are the road authorities concerned. The councils may, at their own discretion, use the road block grant to supplement expenditure from their own resources on such works.

Is the Minister aware that over the last few years neither county council was able to realign roads because the block grant was spent on maintenance work? Unless these councils get additional aid from the Department they will not be able to carry out the road work necessary.

In 1984 Cavan got a block grant of £625,000 and Monaghan £414,000, and they got special grants for strengthening roads of £180,000 and £100,000. There has been a reasonable amount of additional money given to these councils.

Because of the extra heavy traffic on this road, it is important that this and similar roads be kept in a satisfactory condition. Would the Minister agree with that?

I agree that the roads should be kept in good condition but that is a matter for the planning and roads authority. We give them a block grant and how they spend that money is for them to decide. They decide their priorities. They are the best judges.