When the House adjourned, I was getting around to replying to specific points and questions raised by Deputies on the Estimate. One of the points raised by Deputy O'Donnell and a number of other Deputies in various ways, was this question of the lavish realignment of our roads and the complaints that the local authorities were being bludgeoned into spending money unnecessarily in doing these lavish jobs. Deputy O'Donnell went on to say that when he was Minister for Local Government, one of his first pronouncements was to denounce what he then described as "boulevards for plutocrats". It is quite true that Deputy O'Donnell did so denounce these lavish realignments, but one thing the Deputy did not do, having denounced them, was to take action to see that the "boulevards" did not continue.
Since becoming Minister, I have endeavoured to give some of the responsibility over to the elected representatives of the local authorities in regard to these matters. In fact, I have had two or three circulars issued to the local authorities to make sure that in future the roads programme for any given year will go before the local representatives for their comments or amendment before being sent to my Department for sanction. In that way, we hope to bring into the picture the views of the local people and get their comments and their alternative proposals or their amendments to the proposals that may be brought before them by their county engineer.
It is entirely wrong to say that these schemes are dictated by the Department of Local Government and that they are shoved over on the local authorities, with the threat that, if they do not like them, then they will lose the appropriate grant. That is not so. As I say, we have reached the stage now where, certainly from next year onwards, at any rate, the local representatives will get the opportunity and have the right to vet all these proposals before they come to the Department.
Deputy O'Donnell also spoke of the delay in the erection of a bridge at Lifford, between Tyrone and Donegal. All I can say is that the delay is not of our making and that probably the least said about the matter at the moment, the better.
Deputy O'Donnell and other Deputies also raised the question of the traffic laws and the introduction of a new Traffic Bill. Deputy O'Donnell asserted that the Traffic Bill was practically ready for circulation when he left office and that he was about to introduce it. It is true that the draft of the Bill was agreed to, but one would want to be an optimist to agree that the Bill was ready for circulation. The Traffic Bill and proposals for new traffic laws are still under consideration. We hope to introduce this Bill in the not too distant future, if we can overcome all the various snags and iron them out. We may have it in the next session or in the following session.
Special mention was made of speed limits and driving tests. Some Deputies have been very strong for having a driving test and others have not been so. There are those who would have a speed limit in built-up areas and some who are not so keen on it. There are those who believe that none of these things and no laws that can be passed will make any difference to the number of deaths on our roads. I do not subscribe to the belief that laws cannot help. I do feel that a very good case can be made for introducing some sort of speed limit in our built-up areas. They have been tried elsewhere and there is no doubt that they do serve a purpose.
I am personally of the belief that driving tests for motorists, no matter what the experts may say, are something which the road users of this country are entitled to have as protection for themselves. It could be said that if there were driving tests, the people using the roads would at least know the laws. Whether they would observe these laws or not is another matter. Surely a very good start would be made if all the people going on the roads were aware of the law as it stands. If they did not observe that law, it would be a wilful act on their part, whereas at the moment they go out without knowing the laws. They break the laws unwittingly in many cases, with very tragic results.
Reference was also made to the question of dimming devices and indicators on cars. There was reference to the anomaly of the present position which is that the law says that dimming devices must be fitted, but there is no law directing that they must be used. I agree that that is a position which we must try to remedy. There is no point in having these devices, if they are not used. If all drivers on the roads would use these dimming devices sufficiently early when meeting oncoming traffic, they would be much more effective. There have been complaints that these devices are not good enough, but that is the fault of those who do not use them sufficiently early.
I agree, with reservation, that the law cannot reduce the toll of the road. I think it only right that every one of us, on every possible occasion, should appeal to all our people to observe whatever laws there are when using the roads. If the law is lacking in some respects, ordinary courtesy and consideration on the part of all road users will make up for any lack there is until we can bring in some amendment. It is by this consideration and courtesy for others and by strict observance of whatever road laws there are that we can play our part in reducing the hazards of the road as we know them to-day.
Of course, there are people who will have no regard whatever for other users of the road. When it is known that they are wilfully doing that type of driving, no quarter should be given to them when they are pulled in. In particular, you have those who are not content with topping up their cars but who must top up themselves also. If any man or woman drives a car in any way in an intoxicated condition, there can be no question that that person is wilfully endangering the lives of others from the moment of stepping into the car and such people should receive all the penalties that the law can inflict. The possibility is that at the moment the law is not severe enough to deal with them.
Deputy Cosgrave and others raised the question of the speeding up of centre city building in Dublin. Other Deputies stressed the importance of speeding up the passage of building proposals to the Department. As I already mentioned in the debate on the Housing Bill, it is our intention, and we are taking steps, to try to streamline the procedure in regard to private building applications for grants. We are also trying in every possible way to expedite the sanction of the various proposals received from the local authorities.
It is not true to say that we are holding out, on one hand, promises of all the money necessary for these public projects and, on the other hand, by various delaying tactics, nullifying the availability of that money. That suggestion is entirely and completely untrue. If there are delays, as there must be at times, those delays may be caused by objections on very good grounds by the advisers in my Department who may feel, for instance, that contract prices are too high, higher than they know they should be from their experience. They may feel that contractors in one county are seeking far too high a price when they know that in the next county similar jobs are being done for much less. We have had the experience of being able to effect substantial reductions in contract prices when we know that some tenders submitted are far too high. By delay in this matter, it has been possible to reduce prices and costs, not only to the Exchequer, but to the ratepayer as well.
The same Deputy and other Dublin Deputies raised a question that has become a very pressing matter in recent times, namely, the flooding that has taken place in County Dublin and the suburbs of Dublin. I can only say, as I said in reply to a question yesterday, that the proposals submitted to my Department for the relief of this flooding are being considered. A further conference was held in the Department yesterday with a view to formulating a comprehensive scheme that will not only be a remedy next year but a remedy and an amenity in the years to come for the people of these districts who were so badly hit by the recent flooding.
Deputy Brennan of Donegal mentioned the problem of Border roads, roads in counties adjoining the Border, which have been made to bear a completely new and additional volume of traffic as a result of the closing down of some branch railways. He mentioned County Donegal and other Border counties and the case which, it is felt, they have for additional consideration. I need only say to the House that, so far as I am concerned, I am most sympathetic with the case these people are making. I know the unduly heavy burden placed on them, particularly in the case of roads lying along the Border. That is all I can say at the moment. If there is anything further I can do to help, I shall do it but I should like to make it clear that, within the present Road Fund moneys, it would be impossible to make any impression on this problem by way of additional grants because of the fact that, if additional grants were given to the counties concerned for this purpose, too much money would have to be taken from other counties, and I do not think that, in present circumstances, that would be at all fair. However, the matter is being gone into and possibly we may get somewhere with it at some future date. Deputy Corry, during his entire speech——
