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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Jul 1923

Vol. 4 No. 8

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - DUNSHAUGHLIN R.D.C. ESTIMATE.

DOMHNALL O MOCHAIN

asked the Minister for Local Government whether the estimate of the Dunshaughlin Rural District Council, passed by that Council on the 30th January, 1923, whereby it was proposed to raise £17,788 off the rates for maintenance of roads, has been sanctioned by the Local Government Department, and, if so, on what date; whether the Minister is aware that the estimate of £17,788, if so sanctioned, exceeded the estimate of the Co. Surveyor by £7,200, and exceeded the limit of expenditure, as fixed by the Local Government Act, by £13,144 5s., and whether the Minister, before sanctioning such excess, satisfied himself as to the necessity therefor, as promised by his letter of 23rd May, 1923, to the Solicitor of the Meath Association of the Irish Farmers' Union; further whether if the Minister satisfied himself as to the necessity for said excess, he would state on what grounds; and to ask, if the said excess has not been sanctioned, he will state whether the Meath Council are legally entitled to issue warrants for and collect rates calculated on the basis of said excess.

The estimate of the Dunshaughlin Rural District Council is subject to the sanction of the Minister for Local Government only in so far as his consent is necessary under Sub-section 2 of Section 27 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, to expenditure on roads proposed by the Council in excess of the limit fixed in pursuance of that enactment.

The Meath County Council have adopted the estimate of the Rural District Council and applied for consent to an expenditure of £17,700 on roads in the Dunshaughlin Rural District.

I am satisfied, however, after inquiries that the County Surveyor's estimate of £10,588 is reasonable and sufficient and am not prepared to authorise an extension of the limit beyond that figure. Any unexpended balance of rates which may have already been struck in respect of the current financial year in anticipation of an expenditure of £17,788 will be placed in due course to the credit of the Rural District and will be taken into account when next year's rates are under consideration.

The question of the legality of the rate at present being collected is not one for me.

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