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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Feb 1961

Vol. 186 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair Work on Arklow-Dublin Road.

17.

asked the Minister for Local Government when the repair works being carried out on the main road between Arklow and Dublin will be finished.

This is a matter for the road authorities in whose areas the works in question are in progress and for their contractors, where contract works are involved.

Is the Minister aware that these roads have been under repair for 12 months now and does he not think that he could intervene in some way or suggest to the local authorities that the road might be returned to normal use again?

The first thing I might point out is that the Deputy has not been very specific in regard to the works in question, because, between Arklow and Dublin, there are Wicklow County Council, Dublin County Council, Dún Laoghaire Corporation and Dublin Corporation, so that we are dealing with the territory and roads of four different local authorities. In addition, on that stretch of road, there are quite a number of jobs going on. The minor type of job, which is a repair job rather than an improvement job, is subject to one particular consideration in regard to a main road grant, that is, that those jobs should be completed by 31st March.

There is one stretch in a dangerous condition for motorists.

Apart from the condition that they must be completed by 31st March in order to get recoupment by way of grant, the Local Government Department have not power to tell the local authorities how they should do the work or when they should do it, so long as they do it properly. There are two large improvement jobs, one of which has been complained of in this House already, which are proceeding. Again, one of them is being done by direct labour at Loughlinstown. It has been held up because of adverse weather conditions and it is being maintained in a passable condition, so that it may be regarded as safe, at the expense of, and by the actual contractor until such time as he can resume work on it.

The other job is a direct labour job under Wicklow County Council in Kiltymon Glen. That is proceeding and in the normal way, might be expected to be completed by 31st March.

The one the Minister did not mention is the really dangerous one.

Near Jack White's Cross.

They are due for completion by the end of March.

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