asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the debris of the Gortnaskarry Bridge (Giddagh river), Beaufort, County Kerry, has diverted the flow of the water to a considerable extent to the right bank of the river where there is low lying arable land, thus causing serious flooding and erosion of these lands; and, if so, whether he will make representations to the local authority that, pending the construction of a new bridge, steps will be taken to clear the river bed so as to prevent this destruction, and that, instead of the loose branches at present thrown carelessly across the main road at either end of the wrecked bridge, danger signals and substantial protection be provided at these dangerous points.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Construction and Repair of Bridges.
These are matters primarily for the Kerry County Council. I will have the Deputy's representations conveyed to the council for their attention.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the decision that the drainage of the River Flesk cannot be undertaken under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, until a new bridge is erected to replace the old Flesk bridge near Killarney; and, if so, whether he will favourably consider, in the next financial year, the sanctioning of a partial grant to enable some of the obstructions to be removed from the river so as to ease the serious flooding of houses, roads and lands that frequently takes place at Glenflesk.
As the Deputy is aware, grants under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, are made from voted moneys and I cannot commit the Dáil at this stage to grants for the coming financial year. On the assumption that such grants will be made available all proposals that may be submitted by local authorities will be considered by me on their merits. The question of whether a partial scheme for removal of obstructions from the River Flesk may safely be undertaken before a new bridge is built is a matter for consideration by the local authority in the first instance.
asked the Minister for Local Government (a) if he will state the cost of the recent repairs to the wooden bridge at Cockow, The Valley, Beaufort; the total cost of repairs since this temporary structure was first erected; the estimated cost of erecting a concrete bridge at this point, and (b) whether he will impress on the local authority the necessity for erecting a concrete bridge so as to make the passage of the river safe for those who use it.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the wooden bridge on the Waterville-Glenmone county road is a menace to the lives of the people who have to pass over it; and whether he will make representations to the local authority to have provision made for the construction of a concrete bridge to avert the danger to life and to save the expense of constant and futile repairs.
with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 122 and 123 together. I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 3rd March last to questions on the same subject put down by him. These are matters primarily for the Kerry County Council and I understand that the question of a bridge works' programme is at present engaging their attention. There is no information available in the Department in regard to the cost of the repairs to the wooden bridge at Cockow.