asked the Minister for Local Government if he will provide sufficient finance through a special vote for the repair of bog roads or authorise the local authorities to use as much of the local improvement scheme funds as is necessary for this purpose, to eliminate the necessity to complete application forms in respect of such roads.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Roads Construction.
87.
The only funds available for the improvement of bog roads which are not public roads are those provided under the local improvements scheme. Under this scheme county councils have discretion within their allocation as to the amount to be expended on bog road schemes. As councils undertake works as agents of the land holders it is not possible to dispense with forms of application as requested in the question.
Would the Minister not agree that because of the urgency this year of producing extra fuel, it would be almost impossible to work the local improvement schemes under the circumstances? The Minister will appreciate that names must be collected and agreement reached by the people concerned in order to work these schemes and it will not be possible to have this done before the turf season comes.
Why would it not be possible?
I am sure the Minister must be aware of the difficulty and time it takes to collect names and have them processed and get the people to make their contributions.
I live in the country close to a bog. If people are interested there will be no difficulty in getting the information. One evening should be sufficient to collect this information. After that if somebody is interested enough, it will be looked after.
Will the Minister agree that the people who own the bogs may not be using them? They are the people who will have to sign for the local improvement schemes and give permission. The people who are using the bogs will not have the authority to sign the forms. In view of this, I would urge the Minister to have a re-think about this and make money available to county councils to develop the bog roads before the turf season.