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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Nov 1949

Vol. 118 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Cul-de-sac Roads.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the cul-de-sac roads in County Roscommon are badly in need of repair, and that the local authorities, although willing and anxious to improve these roads, are prevented by statute from doing so unless the roads were repaired in the grand jury days prior to 1898; and, if so, whether he will take steps to alter this state of affairs.

It has long been the practice for the local people primarly interested in the improvement of roads of this type to co-operate in the preparation of proposals for which grants may be made available by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance through the special employment schemes office. Since the enactment of the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, local authorities possess certain powers to carry out works for the protection from flooding, etc., of roads for the maintenance of which they are not responsible where in the opinion of such local authority the carrying out of such work is in the public interest.

A new policy was embodied in the scheme of Road Fund grants notified to local authorities this year, whereby a greater proportion of the total grant was diverted from work on main roads towards the cost of carrying out essential and durable improvements on county roads. This policy will be continued in the forthcoming financial year to such extent as the relative needs of the various classes of roads in each area permit and the full amount estimated to become available from the Road Fund will be needed to give effect to it.

In the circumstances, I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by conferring further statutory powers on road authorities in respect of roads for the maintenance of which they are not at present responsible.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is with the improvement and repair of these roads that I am concerned, not the drainage of the roads? Is he further aware that this year the Roscommon County Council was surcharged £2,700 for the repair of cul-de-sac roads? Is he also aware that we have now the extraordinary position that, in the case of two villages side by side, a road into one village is being repaired by the county council because it was repaired prior to the grand jury days, while the road into the other village, which is equally in need of repair, cannot be repaired because it was not done prior to the grand jury days? I understand that the people living in that village had to subscribe for the repair of the road. Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that is a fair position?

If the county councils consider that a cul-de-sac is of any general public utility they may expend certain moneys on its repair. As far as the surcharge on the Roscommon County Council is concerned, I think the Deputy is also aware that it did not adversely affect the Roscommon County Council.

Although it did not adversely affect the Roscommon County Council inasmuch as they have not to pay the £2,700, yet, more than 120 miles of cul-de-sac roadway have been knocked off the repair list permanently by the Roscommon County Council because they are afraid that in future years they would be again surcharged and would not get away with it as they did this year. These roads will no longer be repaired by the Roscommon County Council.

They can repair certain culs-de-sac if they consider that they are of general public utility. I agree that the auditor is the judge.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether it would not be advisable for him to state that the problem is more fundamental? There are 50,000 miles of public roads and 20,000 miles of cul-de-sac roads. It is a matter that has been a source of trouble to every Government and that requires earnest consideration continuously with a view to dealing with the matter. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the fact that the definition of a road which has a general public utility from the legal point of view, precludes the repair of cul-de-sac roads unless there are very exceptional circumstances?

I am so aware.

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