Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This is a matter for each local authority and we will look at it on an authority by authority basis. Senator Tuffy mentioned Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which under the 2003 allocation receives €9 million, though there is nothing for tertiary roads. However, if one goes back a few years it received €127,000 for that sector. This is a matter of priorities but if her local authority comes to us we will consider its application in the manner suggested by Senator Kitt.

Motor taxation is not a budgetary issue. The money accrued is ring-fenced and goes into the local government fund. There is also a substantial Exchequer contribution. As a result of the increase in motor tax over the years and generous increases in the State contribution to the local government fund, the non-national roads grants have increased from €214 million in 1997 to €435 million last year, a record level of investment. We will do our utmost to maintain those levels.

I do not want to pursue the local politics of Longford but the general purpose grant for Longford has increased from €4.2 million in 1997 to €9.3 million in €2003. That is an increase of just under 120% and the increase in funding for non-national roads has increased by 67%. That positive discrimination is done on the basis of need and I realise that the county requires extra funding. The message should go out, however, that the Department is being as generous as possible and will look at each county on the basis of its needs.

Senator Bannon has the record which states that Longford County Council has the lowest own-resources in the country. I appreciate his point about the rate base but it is a good signal to the Department if an increase is indicated there because that would show this is a priority. We are supplementing the local authorities' resources but most of the time it looks like they are supplementing ours.

Unfortunately I cannot accept the amendment but, as I said to Senator Tuffy's colleague in the Dáil, the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has been pursuing this vigorously. The pavement study will be important if one wants the council to look at a number of roads. However, this will not be an add-on; it will be in substitution for something else and that will not be palatable. I cannot accept the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Section 2 agreed to.