asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he is aware that the public weighbridge, formerly used mainly for weighing of agricultural produce and live stock, situated in Banagher, Offaly, has been out of order for over two years, and was recently condemned by the Weights and Measures Inspector as being an obsolete and unsuitable type; also that the landlord, Mr. F. C. French, has refused to provide a bridge, while he insists on collecting tolls on one erected on a private farm by Messrs. Denny, Limerick; whether he is aware that Mr. French, whose lands are vested in the Land Commission, prevented the townspeople from erecting a public weighbridge, which is urgently required by the farmers of the district, and if, in view of the fact that the above sort of grievance is common to many towns and villages in the Saorstát, he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation for the purpose of having all market and fair toll rights vested in county or urban district councils.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TOLL RIGHTS IN MARKET CENTRES.
I am aware of the circumstances connected with the accommodation at Banagher for the weighing of cattle and the facts are as stated in the first part of the question. When the attention of the market authority was drawn by the Department to the unsatisfactory accommodation he applied to be exempted from the provisions of the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts, 1887 and 1891, and after due inquiry the Department, in January, 1925, issued an Exemption Order for a period of three years. The advisability of introducing legislation as suggested in the final part of the question is a matter for the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.