asked the Minister for Local Government if all roads being repaired under rural improvements schemes which serve bog areas are eligible for a contribution of 10 per cent of the estimated cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Roads.
9.
It is recognised that where a bog is used by a large number of landholders, a problem may arise of ascertaining the total land valuation of each user for the purpose of determining the local contribution under the local improvements scheme. In such circumstances the county council may opt for a contribution by the beneficiaries totalling 10 per cent of the estimated cost of the scheme. County Councils were notified on 9th April, 1974 and again on 14th February, 1975, of their discretion in this matter.
That is the text of the circular that was issued to local authorities but I understood from a statement by the Minister that any roads leading to bogs would get off at the 10 per cent. If there is difficulty in getting the valuations who will decide the matter? This is a complicated question and it is being raised daily at local authority meetings. The circular does not clearly define who qualifies.
A certain amount of discretion is left to the local authorities and I think the Deputy will find that they will deal with this in a reasonable way. The Deputy seems to be referring to a specific case and if the Deputy wishes me to give him some more details on it I will be glad to do so.
The question of qualification for a contribution of 10 per cent comes up at every county council meeting I attend. Could the Minister define for us what it is difficult to get? How many are involved that would not qualify under 10 per cent?
We cannot debate the matter today, Deputy.
I understood that difficulty was not the reason for the change, that the reason for the change was the fuel crisis and fuel involved in doing roads leading to bogs. Now we do not know what qualifies and what does not.
I do not want to go into too much detail. Deputy Callanan is a very old member of a local authority. I am sure he is aware that when the former special employment scheme was in operation there was a system under which the local contribution was fixed in similar circumstances. The very same thing applies and the local authorities are aware of this. If Deputy Callanan wants me to spell out every word of this, I will be glad to do so.
Further arising out of the Minister's reply——
I am calling Question No. 10.
I do not want to hold up proceedings but cases crop up every day and we do not know where we stand.
I will give Deputy Callanan the details contained in the previous order and he can study them. I am quite sure that his local authority officers could give him those details also.
The local authorities are very confused. They do not know who qualifies and who does not.