asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the work of road reconstruction has been held up in many districts owing to the alleged shortage of machinery; whether any steps have been taken to ascertain if there is a shortage of machinery, and, if such shortage exists, what steps, if any, have been taken by the trade section of his Department to co-operate with the county councils in order to procure the necessary machinery without undue delay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - ROAD RECONSTRUCTION.
DOMHNALL O MUIRGHEASA
I am aware that the progress of road schemes is retarded in some areas owing to a shortage of road plant. The requirements of the councils were gone into fully in January last, and facilities for the purchase of road machinery notified to the councils in February. Many councils delayed giving a definite order for plant until last month and this month, so that contracting firms are receiving most of the orders in the same three or four weeks. To secure expeditious delivery my Department placed several firms on the approved list, and urged on the representatives of the firms and on the firms themselves to effect immediate delivery of orders received. Where councils have hesitated buying machinery I have urged that it be hired.
Would the Minister consider extending the approved list somewhat and seeing whether machinery cannot be obtained from other sources?
I will consider that if I find it necessary.
Is the Minister aware that there are some county councils which gave their orders through the Trade Department of the Local Government Department, as far back as February, and that the machinery has not been procured for them yet?
I am not aware of that.
Is the Minister aware that several county councils have been informed that some of this machinery cannot be supplied within four months, and will the Minister take some steps to speed up the supply of this machinery in order to relieve unemployment?
I have already undertaken to take such steps as I find necessary to speed it up.
Is the Minister taking advantage of the facilities offered by a variety of firms capable of supplying machinery of this kind, or is his Department confining purchases to one or two instead of the large number of firms which might be capable of doing this work?
I am not confining it to one or two. I am confining it to such firms as are turning out machinery which we consider suitable and adaptable for the purpose. Certain investigations have to be made before we can decide whether the machinery turned out is suitable or not.
Is the Minister aware that but for interference by his Department there are some councils which could have procured the machinery just as cheaply inside a few weeks?
I am not aware of that fact.