asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the condition of county roads in the west and north west; and if he will make an application to the EC for grant-aid to carry out the necessary repair and improvements to these roads.

Grants are currently available from the European Community under the FEOGA western package, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, for improvements to county roads in the west and north west.

Applications for assistance from the European Regional Development Fund are made only in respect of investments within the public capital programme and expenditure on county roads does not fall within the ambit of that programme.

I wish to ask a supplementary question.

The Deputy has about 30 seconds.

If the Minister drives through my county he will see that millions of pounds have been spent on arterial roads, but he will also see the disintegration of county roads. Would he not agree with our suggestion that some proportion of that money should be used for county roads before they completely disappear?

The question relates to the west and north west. The only reason it is being put to me is my responsibility for the Regional Fund. Policy in respect of county roads generally is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and I suggest the Deputy should address his question to him.

We are now moving to questions nominated for priority.