asked the Minister for Local Government if in relation to the Rathcoole-Blackchurch stretch of the Naas dual carriageway he will state (a) the date on which the contract was allotted for the work, (b) the date of commencement, (c) whether the contract included any, and if so what, date of commencement and what date of anticipated completion, (d) if he or the local authority requested the contractors not to proceed at any time with the expeditious completion of the work, (e) if any penalty clause for delay in completion was included, and (f) what are the reasons for the grave delay in the completion of the work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naas Dual Carriageway.
23.
I am informed by Dublin County Council who are the responsible road authority that the replies to the Deputy's queries are as follows: (a) 16th March, 1965; (b) 1st June, 1965; (c) The contract specified a contract period of 24 months. No date of commencement was specified, however; (d) No; (e) Yes, for undue delay in completion of the work; (f) There has been no undue delay in the undertaking of this work which is now substantially completed, but some delay occurred due to the following:
(i) work on the road under an earlier contract with the same firm had to be completed by it before commencing on the present contract,
(ii) abnormal weather conditions.
(iii) rephasing of the work programme necessitated by legal proceedings instituted against the council as mentioned in my reply of 5th April, 1967, to the Deputy's earlier question on the same subject.
As to (d) above, I am, as the Deputy is aware, not a party to the contract and had no dealings with the contractors.