asked the Minister for Local Government what steps have been taken to ensure that road tar is of a standard to ensure proper, rapid and lasting bonding of road-metal; whether steps will be taken to improve the quality of road tar; what is the specification now required in respect of such tar; and what steps are taken to ensure that the tar is up to specification.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Quality of Road Tar.
21.
Road tar is supplied to local authorities under the Combined Purchasing Scheme operated by my Department, and the requisite standard of quality is ensured in the first instance by the inclusion in the tender conditions of a requirement that the tar should comply with the terms of the appropriate technical specification for this material. The standards of quality are also subject to an annual review by my Department with a view to such alteration as may be found necessary from time to time. The specification applicable at present is B.S. 76/1943 for type A tar with viscosity range 20º to 38º C.E.V.T. Compliance with the specification is ensured by the checking of deliveries by the roads engineers of the local authorities, and by the making of laboratory tests, where judged necessary, in accordance with the statutory procedure under the Combined Purchasing Scheme.
Would the Minister say if there are ever any spot checks by the engineering staff of his Department to determine whether the standards of this commodity are maintained in view of the common danger of loose gravel on roads which has not been properly bound by the tarring?
Spot checks would scarcely be the description of what happens at the moment. The local engineer checks the deliveries. If they are all right, there will not be any further necessity for, or any useful purpose to be served by, spot checks. The road engineers check deliveries as they receive them.
The Minister's Department is not concerned in making any check, other than that made by the local engineer, or is it perhaps done in the State Laboratory, or does the Minister from time to time get reports?
Yes. The standards of quality are reviewed every year by my Department and any changes which we know from elsewhere are required are written into the specification requirements. Thereafter, the compliance with these requirements is mainly ensured by the checking of deliveries by the local engineer to whose council the tar is being supplied.