andMr. Kyne asked the Minister for Local Government whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the closing of the Waterford-Tramore railway line and the substitution of a double-decker bus service will result in an enormous increase in road maintenance costs to ensure safe travelling conditions and in a consequent huge increase in rates which will have to be paid by the ratepayers of the city and county of Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford-Tramore Railway: Road Maintenance Costs.
45.
So far as the city section of the Waterford-Tramore road is concerned, I understand that the City Engineer considers that there is a possibility that the road may deteriorate under heavy traffic but that he was unable to give a quantitative estimate of expected damage. The additional Córas Iompair Éireann traffic will be considerably lighter than that envisaged by the City Engineer, and the technical information available to me does not indicate that it will cause appreciable damage. If extra maintenance does become necessary, the Corporation may charge the usual proportion of the expenditure to the Main Road Upkeep Grant. Prior to any announcement of railway closing the Corporation had submitted proposals for flood-relief work in relation to this road.
I have received no communication from Waterford County Council in regard to their section of the road, but the same general principles apply.
Is the Minister aware that the City Engineer estimates that the maintenance increase per year will be as high as £5,000 for that portion of the road? On that basis, it is to be assumed, with double that portion in the county, that the increase in rates for the balance of the county road will be £10,000. That will be a total of £15,000 per year increase to be paid by the ratepayers in Waterford. C.I.E. are losing only £3,000 a year on the rail service. Surely the Government cannot accept this false economy.
The usual proportion can be charged to the main road upkeep grant.
Forty per cent only.
Apart from that, the information available to the Minister does not indicate that the extra traffic will cause appreciable damage.
It is causing a lot of worry and work.
Is the Minister aware that this road passes over a swamp? Is he aware that his Department is giving a grant to the Tipperary County Council of £54,000 to do a road of I mile and one-eighth? This road is over 2 miles long. Is the Minister aware that if this heavy bus service is put on this road over a swamp, the road will cost over £100,000? Would the Minister consider it worth his while sending some of his engineering staff down to Waterford to consult with the Borough Surveyor? The Borough Surveyor has already stated that the short portion within the city will cost at least £5,000 a year to maintain due to bus traffic being put on the road.
Speech!
It is no speech. We are not in the habit of squandering the taxpayers' money like they are in County Limerick.
No specific application for a road improvement grant has been received in respect of this road and it would not be reasonable to expect any decision in the matter until there is an application before the Department.
In the report sent by the Borough Engineer could the Minister say if the figure of £5,000 is given?
I do not know. I have not got the figures before me.
In the absence of any other figure and in the absence of any other examination of the road surely the Minister should accept the fact that the position is as stated by the Borough Surveyor.
The advice available to the Minister is that this opinion is exaggerated—that is, the estimate as to the damage that will be caused by the extra traffic arising out of the closing of the railway.
Is the Minister aware that he has grossly insulted an official of standing, the Borough Surveyor in Waterford?
Why the heck did the Deputy not use the railway?
It is not a laughing matter at all. Will the Minister adjourn this question until he has the information? Apparently he has not the information. With your permission, Sir, I propose to raise this matter on the adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.