asked the Minister for Lands whether, before the Land Commission complete the new road into an estate in County Kildare which they are about to divide, he will arrange to consult the County Council with a view to agreeing with them the standard width and foundations necessary to have that road taken over by the County Council.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare Estate Road.
13.
It is normal practice for the Land Commission to consult with the local authority in the circumstances suggested by the Deputy.
Particulars of the road referred to by the Deputy should, however, be forwarded to my Department.
I am referring to all roads. Is the Minister not aware that there is continuous friction in Kildare between tenants and the county council in relation to roads that have been laid down by the Land Commission in new estates because the tenants want to get the county council to take over the roads? Would this friction not be completely eliminated, if there were adequate consultation beforehand between the Land Commission and the county council?
In regard to roads constructed by the Land Commission which are intended to be declared public roads, there is a standing instruction to officials to have prior consultation with the county council. From the way the Deputy's question was framed, I thought he had a particular road in mind.
Can the Minister elucidate who intends this road to be a public road?
In the circumstances, I think it is very obvious. There are some roads in which only a few people are concerned—they may be cul-de-sac roads—and you have other roads obviously of public utility.
Is it not the local authority who is the judge of what is or what is not to be a public road and, therefore, should not the local authority be consulted?
As I have informed the Deputy, there is a standing instruction in connection with roads we consider to be public roads to consult with the local authority. If the Deputy has a particular road in mind, which he or the local authority consider may become a public road, and if he would give particulars of it, I shall have discussions arranged.
Would the Minister not consider extending that instruction to include all roads under construction? It would not involve very much additional trouble to consult the local authority, but it would save a lot of trouble afterwards.