asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to amend the rural improvements scheme to provide that the full estimated cost of repairing roads other than culs-de-sac will be made available from State funds on condition that the county council is prepared to take these roads over and maintain them as county roads after repair is carried out; and, if so, whether he will state the minimum width (if any) to be specified for such roads in order to qualify for a grant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvement Scheme and Road Repairs.
Under the existing procedure for the rural improvements scheme, a grant can be made for the repair of any road which connects two county roads, without requiring a contribution from the adjoining landholders, provided that:
(1) The link is of sufficient importance as a public road; (2) the cost is not excessive in relation to its utility; (3) the work is not one which the county council would otherwise have done out of their own funds; and (4) the county council, with the approval of the Minister for Local Government, undertake to maintain the road on completion.
Section 25 of the Local Government Act, 1925, prescribes that a road connecting two public roads can only be taken over for maintenance by a county council if it is not less than 11 feet wide in the clear.
Generally speaking, there is a strong objection to increasing the mileage of roads to be maintained by county councils, for the reason that the amount available from the rates is already barely sufficient, and in many cases less than sufficient, to keep the existing county council roads in a sound condition; and any additions to the mileage to be maintained out of the rates would reduce still further the average level of public road efficiency in the county.