asked the Minister for Lands if he will state when it is intended to proceed with the erection of the proposed bridge at Clooninagh, County Galway, connecting the O'Connor Nolan and Burke estates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Erection of Bridge in County Galway.
The Land Commission have had under consideration a proposal to erect a bridge over the Grange River to connect the Burke estate with the townland of Clooninagh. The erection of the bridge would benefit six allottees living in Clooninagh who were given allotments on the estate and who have an alternative means of access although by a longer route. The cost, however, of an adequate structure on what is a difficult site would, it is feared, be exceedingly heavy at present prices and it will be a question for the commission, when an estimate is secured, to decide whether the expenditure could be justified. I understand that certain necessary materials are at present unobtainable.
In this particular case I understand that a pile driver was taken there seven or eight years ago for the purpose of erecting a bridge, that a hut was erected and that the Land Commission had an estimate prepared for carrying out the work. The alternative route referred to by the Minister is too far away altogether. The people there cannot take a load of produce to or from their house or land across the river. It is such a roundabout journey that they can only do one hour's work in a whole day. I think the Department should proceed with the erection of the bridge.
The six tenants concerned who live on the side of the river opposite to that on which they got allotments have to follow a circuitous route, but they have been doing that for 12 years without any complaint. As the Deputy knows, the erection of a bridge there would be very difficult for the reason that it is almost impossible to get solid foundations on either side of the river on which to put it up. The matter is being examined, but at this stage I cannot say what will materialise out of the examination.
It is not correct to say that the people have carried on there for 12 years without making any complaint. I myself made several representations to the Land Commission, and other representations were made as well. The Land Commission decided a number of years ago that it was essential that a bridge should be erected there. Why have they changed their mind?
If they decided to do that, why did they not erect it?
A good deal of water has flown under the bridges since.
It could not flow under this bridge because it has not been erected.
We must take into consideration the cost of any particular scheme to see if the cost would be justified. Again, I would point out that some of the materials we need for the bridge, even if we were going to erect it, are not available.
That reply would be fairly good for the Minister for Industry and Commerce to say that because the materials were not available that was the reason why this bridge was left over. I would ask the Minister for Lands to get after this again.