asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the order transferring the main roads Cobh Urban Area to Cork County Council for maintenance purposes has resulted in imposing a very serious financial burden on the Cobh urban ratepayers; that for the financial years 1926-27 the rate struck by the urban authority to meet the County Council demand for this particular service was 1/2 in the pound, or £1,350 approximately, while the amount expended on the service was £700, showing a loss to the urban rates of £650 or 6d. in the pound on the urban valuation; whether in the interests of economy as well as efficiency in this urban area the Minister will nullify the order and allow the urban authority to carry on this particular service.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - MAIN ROADS IN COBH URBAN AREA.
The Order transferring the main roads in Cobh to the County Council was made in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1925, which provides that the expenses of maintaining main roads in the county (including urban districts) shall be raised equally over the whole of such county (including urban districts). The area of chargeability remains the same whether the main roads in an urban district are maintained directly by the Urban District Council or by the County Council. It is unlikely that a lesser charge would fall upon the urban district if the roads are maintained directly by the Urban District Council.
I will make enquiries as to the financial consequences of the Order transferring the maintenance of main roads in the Cobh Urban District to the Cork County Council, and will communicate further with the Deputy.