asked the Minister for Local Government if the attention of his Department has been called to the very bad condition of the main road from Nixons to Dowra; and, if so, whether he will arrange to have it repaired at the earliest possible date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair of Roads.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to the deplorable condition of the road from Glan Gap to Gubb Cross on the Cavan-Bundoran route which is a main artery for tourist traffic, and whether his Department intends to expedite the necessary repair work to make the road at least fit for vehicular traffic.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 116 and 117 together. It is a matter for the Cavan County Council to decide in the first instance what provision they will make for road works in any year and select the works to be undertaken with the moneys available. All the moneys available in the present year for road works in the county, including the council's share of the Road Fund Grants, have been applied to specific works. As regarding the possibility of including the works in which the Deputy is interested in the coming year's programme, this is a matter for the county council. A copy of the Deputy's question and of this reply will be sent to the county council.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the byroad leading into Creehermore village, Roscommon, is badly in need of repair, that this road was repaired every three years by the county council, but that as a result of a recent decision, the county council are precluded from incurring further expenditure on the repair of this road; and, if so, whether he will have this matter remedied.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply on the 9th November to a question put down by him on the general subject of cul-de-sac roads.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this road has been repaired every three years for the past 45 years by the county council, and that last year this same road and 150 miles of other cul-de-sac roads in the county were knocked off the repair list by the Local Government auditor? Does he not consider it an injustice to these people now to have to subscribe to the repair of those roads which had been repaired for them free of cost for the past 45 years?
The Deputy is accurate in everything he says, but the Minister cannot interfere with the judgment of the auditor, who is the sole judge of whether or not these roads are of general public utility.
Am I to take it, then, that 600 families are to suffer as a result of that decision, notwithstanding that other means were available for the past 45 years for the repair of these roads?
That is practically the same question.
With the permission of the Chair, I would like to queue up with those who have given notice to raise matters on the Adjournment.
It is a queue.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether, in view of the urgent necessity for reconstructing two small bridges on the road leading from the Black Valley to Derrycunihy, and also for the repair of the road itself, which serves forty families, he will allocate a grant for the carrying through of these works at the earliest possible date.
I understand that this is not a public road for the maintenance of which the local authority would have any responsibility. On the general question of roads which are not public roads, I would refer the Deputy to the terms of my reply to a question put down by Deputy McQuillan on the 9th November last.