asked the Minister for Local Government if he will ensure that a special grant will be made available to assist the Land Commission and the tenants of the Bellew and Blakeney Bog, County Galway, to make suitable roads to service this bog supplying approximately 65 tenants from the villages of Mountbellew, Ballinahatlina, Lehenagh, Gallagh, Crannagh, The Islands, Greenville, Lisnagree, Newtown, Bovinion, Ashfield, Course and Castleblakeney, to enable the tenants to have their turf cut by machine and to have it saved and harvested as a matter of urgency in view of the present fuel crisis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Road Development.
5.
Mr. Kitt
Application for grants under the local improvement scheme should be made direct to the county council concerned who have full discretion in the making of grants and deciding the priorities to be accorded particular works.
Mr. Kitt
Have we both money and power in the county councils to fix bog roads?
The county councils have the power and will have to wait until allocations are announced to see if they have the necessary money.
6.
asked the Minister for Local Government if he will waive the condition in respect of congested areas requiring a local contribution from beneficiaries under local improvement schemes in relation to the repair and improvement of bog roads which are not county roads.
No local contribution is required from beneficiaries of local improvement schemes where the average rateable valuation of their lands is under £5. I am satisfied that the condition requiring local contributions on a graduated scale in the cases where the average land valuation is £5 or over is fair and reasonable and should be continued.
Is the fact that the valuation of the land is separate from the farm taken into account, especially where people live from six to ten miles from the bogs?
The rateable valuation is, I assume, the valuation of the land. If there were more than two portions of a farm it would not be a good idea to divide them and have only the portion attached to the area to be improved.
Under the previous administration minor employment schemes and bog development schemes were replaced by local improvement schemes. Those roads, especially in the west where small bogs and non-county roads——
The Deputy is making a statement.
Is the Minister aware that those roads are in a deplorable state?
Bog roads which are not public or county roads may be improved under the local improvement scheme. That has been the practice since 1968.
Is the Minister aware that it is difficult to get contributions when the roads are used only to bring out turf? In view of the fuel emergency would he consider waiving the clause in the case of bog roads? In the old days the Office of Public Works were responsible for these roads and the schemes were noncontributory. When the county councils undertook responsibility for the local improvement schemes they made them contributory schemes.
It might be necessary to have another look at this to find out if conditions should be changed. It is not proposed to do so immediately.
Is the Minister considering making a special allocation under the local improvement schemes grant for the repair of bog roads?
No.
Would the Minister——
I observe that a number of Deputies wish to intervene. We cannot have a debate. Deputies must await another occasion.
Would the Minister consider extending the scope of the local improvement schemes so that grants can be made available?
The scope of the scheme is fairly wide——
It is not wide enough for this question.
For which particular question?
Bog roads.
Some Deputies do not seem to understand that the question of bog roads is different from any other. Because of the difficulty of calculating local contributions where the users of bogs were numerous and scattered, the special employment schemes fixed a flat rate contribution of 10 per cent. If this is operated successfully, it should help in having schemes carried out properly. It would be a pity if people who will benefit substantially are not asked to contribute a small amount.
It is the State who will benefit——
I am calling on Deputy Coogan for a final supplementary.
Would the Minister consider having an allocation from the Central Fund for this purpose?
I must pass on to the next question.
Deputy Crowley is not correct. The only reason why people do this is because it will benefit their families.
(Interruptions.)
In view of the energy crisis would the Minister consider improving the old bog roads? They will have a part to play in future. It is important that something should be done.
Mr. Kitt
May I ask the Minister to send to the county engineers the directions which he has explained? If he does we will be able to do a lot of work.
I will do that.