AN increase in capital spending of £126 million at the Department of the Environment - bringing its budget to more than £1 billion - would allow the development of housing, roads, water and sewage treatment to be accelerated in 1997, according to the Minister, Mr Howlin.
"In particular, I am pleased that the provision for the restoration programme for county roads has been increased by a further £20 million, bringing total State expenditure on this network to a new record level of £173 million in 1997," he said.
The Minister made no mention of last Friday's High Court judgment in favour of a group of Co Cavan residents, which ruled that the State had a statutory obligation to fund the repair of potholed county roads. It is expected that this decision will be appealed.
Mr Howl in said the county road restoration programme would bring roads to an acceptable standard in 10 years. He also noted the increase in funding for national roads - up £30 million to £258 million - saying it would ensure that further "rapid progress" would be made in 1997.
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Ms Liz McManus, welcomed the increased funds for housing - a total of £400 million - saying it represented a 9 per cent rise over 1996 and would fulfil the Government's commitment to making 7,000 housing "starts" next year.
The provision of £175 million for the local authorities housing programme - an increase of 11 per cent on 1996 - would enable them to make 3,900 "starts" or acquisitions next year. Altogether, including the voluntary housing programme, it would meet the needs of 10,000 households.
Ms McManus also pointed to an 83 per cent increase, to £11 million, on the provision for travellers' accommodation, reflecting a increased level of activity in this area. A further £1 million was being provided to assist local authorities in maintaining travellers' halting sites.
Another new grant, of £1.5 million, is being provided to fund an improvement programme aimed at severely run-down housing estates and flat complexes in Dublin, Cork and Limerick, in line with one of the key recommendations of the ministerial task force on drug abuse.
