Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Jun 1962

Vol. 196 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois-Offaly Road Repairs.

22.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he received an application for the last grant for the repair of the worst sections of the accommodation and bog road from the county road at Mr. Rutledge's gate west and south to the railway crossing at Ballyegan, Kilcolman, Birr, County Offaly, the date of inspection, the date on which the grant was notified to the County Engineer, and the amount spent on the road since 1960 in respect of (i) wages and (ii) materials; and if having regard to the manner to which this road is widely used by local residents and turf cutters he will have a further inspection carried out so that further money will be made available without delay for this urgent and important work.

23.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he received the application for the last grant for the repair of the worst sections of the accommodation and bog road from the county road at Mr. James Fingleton's house, south to Patrick Drennan's turf bank with branch east to Mr. Murtagh Coss's bank and west to Mr. William Deevery's turf bank, the date of inspection by officers of his Department, and the date on which the County Engineer was notified of approval of the grant; and if he will give details of the amount spent on this proposal in respect of labour in last year's programme, and the date on which it was certified as completed in a satisfactory manner, as the many users of this road at Ross, Portlaoise and in the district of Clondarrig are anxious to have it put in a proper state of repair.

24.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money spent in respect of (i) wages and (ii) materials since 1960 on the repair of the bog road from the end of the county road east to a point 70 yards east of the Tinker's bridge and continuing north towards Buckley's bog to the end of the existing road at Kilcolganbeg, Ferbane, County Offaly; if he will have a further inspection carried out so that a further grant may be made available for this important road having regard to the extent of its use by the many local residents; and if he will state the date on which he last received an application for a grant in this district, the date of inspection by officers of his Department, and the date on which the County Engineer was informed of approval for the grant.

25.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied with the present state of repair of the bog road from the country road 250 yards north of Mr. Thomas Dowling's house at Clonmore, Errill, County Laois, west and north to the boundary of Garranmaconly; if he will state the date of the last inspection by officers of his Department, and the date on which the application for a grant was made to his Department; and if he will have it further inspected so that he may have an up-to-date report which may warrant the provision of a further grant in respect of repairs.

27.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the widespread use made by turfcutters and others of the bog road leading from the county road 700 yards north of Mr. John Connor's house to Mr. Martin Bracken's turf bank and of the branch road leading through the cutaway from the loading bank on the main bog road west towards Mr. Thomas Birmingham's turf bank at Derries, Kilclonfert, Daingean, County Offaly; if he will state the date on which the last application for a grant was received in his Department, the total amount of the grant, the amount spent on (i) wages and (ii) materials, and the date on which an inspection was made by officers of his Department; and if a further inspection will now be carried out so that money will be made available for further patch repair work on the worst sections of this road.

28.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance the date on which an application for a grant was last received in his Department for the repair of the worst sections of the bog road from the Bay Bridge, Mountmellick, County Laois, north to Broomfield bog at William Meredith's turf bank, the date of inspection, and the date on which the grant was notified to the County Engineer; and if he is satisfied that this road is in good repair.

Mr. O'Malley

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to answer Questions Nos. 22 to 25 and Nos. 27 and 28 together.

The information requested is being assembled and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I am indeed very grateful to the Parliamentary Secretary for the courtesy of the intended correspondence, but that is not the type of reply I require. If the Parliamentary Secretary has not now the information available which I require to be placed on the records of the House, I shall be very happy to repeat the question in a week. Will that be all right?

Mr. O'Malley

It will be on the record, anyway.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I do not think so, unless the replies are given in the House. Does that apply to the three questions which he answered in the same terms yesterday? In order to save him the trouble of correspondence, I shall ask them again.

Mr. Smith

Ask them in a week.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

That is what I will do. I am grateful to the Minister for Agriculture for his help, too.

Mr. Smith

I like to be co-operative.

26.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance if he will again consider the application for a grant under the Rural Improvement Scheme submitted some time ago by Mr. James G. Coughlan, Bawnmore, Geashill, County Offaly, on behalf of the local residents for the road leading from the main Ballinagar-Geashill road in the direction of Mr. Foran's gate at Bawnmore, Geashill; and if he will now make a grant available so that the local contribution may be collected and work undertaken with the least possible delay.

Mr. O'Malley

In 1959, Mr. Coughlan refused his consent for a scheme for the repair of this road because it did not provide for the erection of fences or cattle grids. These were omitted because they would be costly and because it appeared to be Mr. Coughlan's personal responsibility to provide them. On the assumption that all the landholders concerned now wish the scheme to proceed I will arrange to have a fresh estimate prepared.