Vol. 223 No. 6
asked the Minister for Local Government the steps which are taken to ensure that tar purchased for road making and maintenance is prepared entirely from crude tars produced as a by-product of the high temperature carbonisation of coal in retorts or in coke ovens.
10.
asked the Minister for Local Government the annual amount of tar purchased under the joint purchasing scheme; the number, frequency and quantity of samples thereof (a) taken and (b) tested to ensure compliance with the schedule of requirements for road tar provided in BSS 76: 1943; and by whom the tests are conducted.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
As stated in my reply to a related question on the 17th May, 1966, the standard of quality of road tar is ensured by the conditions of appointment of the official contractors who supply it to local authorities, by the checking of deliveries by the road engineers of these authorities, and by laboratory tests in appropriate cases. In addition, the manufacture and production of the commodity may be inspected on my behalf should the need arise.
The annual amount of tar purchased under the combined purchasing scheme is approximately 15,000 tons. Three samples in all have been taken and tested in recent years, in accordance with the statutory procedure under the combined purchasing scheme. These tests were made by the State Laboratory and the sample proved satisfactory in each case.
Will the Minister send an inspector into the works where the tar is manufactured? My information is that part of the tar is manufactured from Segas and from CWG, which is in direct conflict with the specifications laid down, and that this is producing a tar which the engineers believe is up to specification but which my information leads me to believe is not. It is because this tar is lacking in the necessary binding properties that local authorities are having so much difficulty with tar on our roads.
As the Deputy is surely aware, the particulars of appointment for the suppliers state that the road tar shall be prepared entirely from crude tars produced as a by-product of high-temperature carbonisation of coal in retorts or in coke ovens. This has been the standard requirement for quite a number of years and I have no reason to believe it is not followed. In so far as inspections are concerned, they are being carried out, but if the Deputy has any information that would warrant an immediate inspection other than the normal routine inspections, I should be glad to have a spot check carried out.
My information is that the manufacturers prepare almost daily sheets showing the tar manufactured and from what it is manufactured. I respectfully ask the Minister to have these sheets inspected. They will show that a considerable proportion of the ten per cent gas is manufactured definitely outside the specifications.
Has the Minister any complaints from local authorities that there has been a considerable amount of damage to roads this year which were freshly tarred because, if rain comes immediately before or after the tarring, the tar lifts and an entire day's work can be spoiled by a shower of rain? This has been particularly so this year.
I am not aware of it. I would not say it has not happened before this year.
Not on such a big scale. Would the Minister inquire from the local authorities if it has been widespread this year? It might prove Deputy Ryan's point.
If we could have from the Deputies what they are trying to prove, it might make my task easier.
If the Minister wants proof, he can find it from engineers employed by local authorities. A considerable amount of tar put on soon after a shower—sometimes six or seven hours after or before a shower— has been lifting. Some of it has been carried from one county to another on wheels of vehicles and perhaps some counties will have their tarring done for nothing.
I shall check on it and if the Deputies put down another question in a couple of weeks, I may have more comprehensive information on these matters.
In the meantime, would the Minister have an inspection carried out on the lines I have seen fit to recommend? I am not in a position to disclose the source of my information on this matter without disclosing the identity of my informant. I suggest that when I make a genuine request of this kind the Minister has an obligation to investigate it.
Could the Deputy help me by supplying me with more details?
I shall discuss it with my advisers.
Or adviser.
Plural.
Just one.
No, plural.
