asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that great loss is being caused to shopkeepers and business people and that serious inconvenience is being caused to residents by the delay in completing the main road between Vernon Avenue and Seafield Road, Clontarf; and, if so, whether he will request the Dublin Corporation to complete this work at once so that the loss and inconvenience may be minimised.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Completion of Clontarf (Dublin) Road.
I am not so aware. There does not appear to have been any avoidable delay in connection with this work which, I understand, is being carried out with the minimum inconvenience to the local people.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this road has been closed for a considerable time and that, at the rate of progress being made at the moment, it is likely to be closed for a very long period? Will he arrange with the corporation to speed up the work so that the loss referred to in the question may be minimised?
The road, I believe, has been closed since the beginning of October. In view of the fact that the work involves the widening of the road and the filling in of the new roads with material from the portion outside the sea wall, it has been necessary to close the road completely. In ordinary circumstances only half the road would be closed while the other half was being repaired. One half would be left open to traffic. The Deputy's question has been sent on to the local authority concerned, but I should like to say again that there has not been any avoidable delay in carrying out the work.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it has become the practice in the city when roads are being repaired to close the whole road instead of closing half the road? That does create a traffic problem of which the closing of the road at Seafield Road is one example.
I shall bring this case to the notice of the Dublin Corporation, but sometimes it is not possible to do as the Deputy suggests when the road is narrow.