asked the Minister for Local Government whether there is a condition attaching to road grants that the roads be widened to 18 feet and, if so, if he will waive this condition in respect of those secondary roads which are badly holed, so that they may be resurfaced quickly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Secondary Road Grants.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the negative. One of the conditions attaching to the grants made available for the improvement of county roads is that the width of finished carriageways should be 16 feet. The improvement of these roads is being carried out in accordance with the county road improvement plans drawn up by each county council for execution in order of priority. I am advised that a width of 16 feet is the minimum that could reasonably be specified for the more important country roads. My Department has not laid down any standards of width in connection with maintenance work on county roads to which the county roads improvement scheme has not yet applied.
Would the Minister give special attention to the question of the secondary roads which have been subjected in recent years to exceptionally heavy motor traffic and are now, in many cases, dangerous to drive on, because of the necessity to zig-zag on them to avoid the pot-holes? Would he see that a quick job of resurfacing is carried out on as many as possible of these roads before the heavy summer traffic begins?
My Department lays down no standard in regard to maintenance work. My predecessor in office caused a circular to be sent to local authorities in this connection, setting out that the minimum standard for improvement of county roads, as distinct from the maintenance of county roads, should be 16 feet, and I think it is very reasonable.
In what category will the Minister put the sort of work I have mentioned, on roads that have become so badly holed that their repair could possibly be regarded as improvement?
No; that is maintenance and it does not come under the five-year plan.
Has the Minister had brought to his notice the fact that a great many of these roads are in a particularly bad state?
I visit my constituency often and I consider that I am aware of the condition of the roads there.
Is there anything the Minister can do, with the co-operation of the county council, to have the worst of these attended to before the summer begins?
There is, of course. The Deputy is well aware that the county engineer consults with the local county councillors every five years before including in the five-year plan any particular road for improvement. It is only where road improvement is concerned that my Department comes in. In so far as road maintenance is concerned, we have nothing to do with it and if the Deputy wishes to make representations to the local county engineer to have these pot-holes filled, so that he will not, as he said, have to zig-zag round them, I am sure the county engineer will endeavour to give every facility.