asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that several householders in isolated areas have no suitable roads leading to their houses and land; and if he will try to have those roads repaired more frequently than heretofore to ensure that householders have proper access to their houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Access to Houses in Isolated Areas.
8.
The improvement and upkeep of non-public roads is the responsibility of the users. Where, however, a road serves a number of landholders jointly, State assistance for the carrying out of improvements may be given in the form of minor employment schemes or rural improvements schemes grants. Such assistance is at present being given to the maximum extent permitted by the total amount of funds available and by the special conditions attached to the schemes, which are, principally, that minor employment schemes grants must be related to the number of unemployment assistance recipients in the electoral division, and that local contributions must be paid towards the cost of works done under the rural improvements scheme. No responsibility is accepted for the ordinary day to day upkeep of non-public roads.
Would the Minister not consider that it would be advantageous for the offices concerned to notify the relevant county council offices that such roads are now brought up to standard so that the local authority officers may then ensure that proper repair will be maintained on them, thus preventing their deterioration to their original state?
I presume they are in touch with local authorities on the subject of those roads.
There is no official notification. Cork County Council have arranged it. It is not within the province of the local authority to arrange it. Would the Minister ensure that a general direction be given that where roads are brought up to standard under rural improvement schemes, and so on, the local authority concerned will be notified that such and such a road has now been brought up to standard?
Sometimes the local authority refuses to take over those roads on account of the cost. Take a county such as Mayo where there are so many backward and isolated places.
Cork County Council are at present engaged with the Special Employment Schemes Office with regard to those roads and are awaiting a final reply.