asked the Minister for Local Government if in order to facilitate and expedite the development of the mechanisation of road-making, concomitant with the absorption of road-workers into more productive and more remunerative employment, he will consider seeking powers to establish regional boards composed of the various local authorities who might thereby pool their economic resources in staff and modern mechanical equipment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mechanisation of Road-Making.
I do not consider that the establishment of regional bodies on the lines suggested by the Deputy would, on balance, produce any advantage. There are at present a number of ways in which local authorities may co-operate in the exercise of their road functions, for example, by making mutual arrangements for the hire of machinery, by consultations through joint committees under Article 38 of the Application of Enactments Order, 1898, and by arrangements between adjoining local authorities under Section 24 of the Local Government Act, 1925, for the construction and maintenance of roads.