asked the Minister for Finance if he has received representations from Castleblayney Urban District Council, County Monaghan, that the Castleblayney-Newtownhamilton road should be made an approved road for customs purposes; and whether he is prepared to meet the wishes of the urban council in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Approved Road.
4.
Representations on this subject were received recently from the Castleblayney Town Clerk and he was informed that the request to have the Castleblayney-Newtownhamilton road approved for customs purposes would not be granted.
Two years ago, following a full review of cross-Border traffic facilities undertaken in consultation with the British customs authorities, four new routes were approved, one of which was the Carrickmacross-Crossmaglen road. Consequently, there are now two approved routes in the Castleblayney area, the second being the road from Castleblayney to Keady.
Last February, moreover, the conditions governing the issue of cross-Border concession passes were considerably relaxed so as to facilitate motorists living near the Border.
I am satisfied that the customs facilities now provided are adequate and that the expense of maintaining a third frontier post in this area would not be justified.
Even if the Minister's investigation has satisfied him that the opening of this Castleblayney-Newtownhamilton road as a customs post would not be justified on economic grounds, it is to be borne in mind that there is a social amenity consideration concerning the people living in the area and the flow of tourist traffic across the Border, and has the Minister's attention been directed to the fact that even though you are not carrying dutiable goods, you cannot enter the Republic with a car on an unapproved road? Castleblayney is trying, and very successfully trying, to expand the fishing tourist trade in that area. Would the Minister not consider, even for experimental periods during, say, spring and summer, putting temporary accommodation on this road and seeing if, by experiment, it might be revealed that taking the social amenity, the tourist amenity and the economic amenity into consideration, these combined considerations might justify making this an approved road?
As regards the social amenity consideration, the Deputy is no doubt aware that we announced earlier this year, following consultations between the respective customs authorities, that cross-Border concession passes would be made available to practically all motorists living within five miles of the Border. Previous to that, these were made available only to restricted classes of people like clergymen, doctors, veterinary surgeons, nurses and so on. I think the new arrangements will greatly facilitate people living in the vicinity of the Border and I am sure that will take care of the social amenity side of the question. With regard to tourists earlier this year we eased the requirements in respect of cross-Border traffic.
But only on an approved road. Tourists cannot come in across an unapproved road.
That is true but concession passes apply to unapproved roads.
That would be for local people but this road remains an unapproved road.
Yes, but these passes apply to unapproved roads.
That is for local people.
Yes.
Every time we have applied in this area for the approval of an additional road, the Revenue Commissioners have always advised the Minister that it would be economically undesirable. The Minister knows that two roads in recent times which have been objected to for years by the Revenue Commissioners have been approved. I suggest to the Minister that in the general atmosphere of expansion, he might look at this Castleblayney-Newtownhamilton road again.