asked the Minister for Local Government if he will advise local authorities to curtail as far as possible the spending of money on road works during the summer months and to transfer workers, etc., to drainage schemes which can be carried out more satisfactorily during the dry season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of Road Workers.
The policy pursued in this matter is to leave the local authorities the maximum discretion in determining the time schedules for the execution of their various programmes of public works. Last year there was no alternative to carrying out the most of the drainage schemes in the late autumn and winter seasons owing to the stage of the year at which the legislation was enacted and financial provision made for the works. This year, however, both road works and drainage schemes can be planned for the year as a whole and the execution of each such scheme can be timed in relation to other schemes such as road works in the area, weather conditions, employment considerations and every other relevant factor. I am sure that the local authorities will have due regard to all these matters in co-ordinating their pending programmes.
I understand that if the local authorities decide on a schedule of their own the Department will not be opposed to it in any way; that if the local authorities decide to do most of the drainage works in the summer the necessary money will be advanced from the Department to meet these schemes?
Yes. As I said before, the local authorities have been communicated with in regard to the execution of these schemes. I think I can do no better than to quote from a circular issued to the local authorities on 30th March last, paragraph 2 of which states:—
"A final figure for the grant for 1950-51 will be notified in due course. Particulars of works approved will also be notified from time to time; the total cost of these works may exceed the amount of the final grant, but the final grant cannot be increased. It will be for the local authority to decide, when necessary, which of the approved works to put in hands, having regard to the overall limit on the grant. In the selection of approved works for execution and in determining the time for their execution, regard should be had to the labour position in the locality, the demands of other services such as road works, agriculture, etc., the need for avoiding as far as possible sharp fluctuations in the employment of local authority workers, and the weather conditions necessary for good results. In fixing the time programme regard should also be had to the case of road works which require to be undertaken at particular seasons of the year, in order that the best possible value be obtained for money spent thereon."
We expect in the next fortnight or three weeks to make final allocations to the county councils with regard to proposals under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, and it will be for the councils themselves to decide what is the appropriate time to put the schemes into operation.