asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that the County Engineer in Mayo proposes to spend a sum of £60,000 per mile on the main Swinford-Foxford road, while at the same time many roads in County Mayo are in a very bad condition; and what steps he proposes to take to see that this money is spent over a wider area so as to make more roads fit for present day traffic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Roads.
59.
The proposal in question has not come before my Department officially. When it does, it will receive a thorough scrutiny from the aspect of cost, as well as other relevant aspects. As regards the spending of road moneys over a wider area, the Deputy, as a member of the county council, will be aware that for some years past a new procedure introduced by me enables the council, where it is not satisfied with particular proposals in the annual road works scheme, to submit alternative proposals for my consideration.
Is the Minister aware that the county engineer in Mayo has made a statement that he proposes to spend at the rate of £60,000 per mile, when we are all aware that there is a credit squeeze, and that there are many roads throughout the county which need some attention? Will the Minister see that this man is brought back to base? He seems to have gone into outer space.
I have nothing to add to what I have already said to the Deputy. This has not come before me officially. There is a procedure which is rather new—it was introduced by me some years ago—enabling county council members who disagree with a roads proposal to put up an alternative to me for consideration as between the one and the other.
Further to that reply —this is an important matter—might I inquire from the Minister whether, if we, as a council, submit what we regard as sensible proposals to him, he will see to it that they get careful consideration as against the opinion of the county engineer, as things seem to have gone haywire?
The Deputy can be assured that any proposals that come up, running counter to those put up by the county engineer, always get that consideration.