asked the Minister for Local Government when work will commence on the building of the bridge at Kinsale, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Bridge.
85.
The making of a bridge order is at present under consideration in the light of the observations received from Cork County Council on the draft order.
Arrangements for the construction of the bridge will be the responsibility of the county council. I cannot say at this stage when work is likely to start.
This question has been asked in this House for the last three years and we are still getting the answer that it is travelling up and down between Cork County Council and the Department of Local Government. I am sure it would find its way up here on its own now. Can the Minister give us a definite answer as to when this work will commence? He was in Kinsale recently and made a very favourable impression. I think he promised them privately that the bridge would be up before the tourist season commenced.
He did not say which one, did he?
There is no tourist season this year anyway. All I can say is that this is definitely coming to the end of the line as far as decisions on the bridge order are concerned. The making of an order on the terms which Cork County Council suggested is under consideration and the preparation of the final draft is proceeding now so it will be available fairly shortly. Now that I am in a generous mood I may as well tell the Deputy more. When this order is made Cork County Council will have to arrange for a review of all the technical documentation for the project to take account of the reduced width. There is a question of whether it should be 28 feet or 36 feet. This has to be resolved. Revised documents will have to be drawn up and then a tender sought and my approval for that tender obtained.
For any further information ask Martin Corry.
I have walked this bridge from one end to the other. It is pretty shaky and it will be an expensive job because it is such a long bridge.
In view of the extreme danger to the general public travelling on this bridge and the fact that it has been brought to the Minister's notice by the engineers of Cork County Council, surely this bridge order he is talking about could be done without? First of all, Cork County Council were told there was no need for it at all. Is it that the money is not available? What other excuse has the Minister?
I have promised Kinsale Fianna Fáil Cumann that I will give this matter top priority.
Do not go down again if you do not.
I have a standing invitation.
Do not cross the bridge.