asked the Minister for Defence whether he has yet received any reply to the special representations made to the British War Department respecting the agreement made in the years 1893 and 1894 between the Department and the Grand Jury of the County Kildare to maintain the Lurrig Lane and the Curragh eastern boundary roads; whether he is aware that he can get all particulars of the agreement from the Secretary of Kildare County Council; whether he is aware that this road is impassable, as parts of it are under water during the whole year, and that the local clergymen and doctors (who are signatories to a petition to have this road made safe for traffic) complain of its dangerous and unhealthy condition, and the difficulty of carrying out their duties at night-time, and whether he will have inquiries made as to his responsibility for the maintenance of these roads.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MAINTENANCE OF CO. KILDARE ROADS.
I have obtained from the British War Department the records of the undertaking or agreement made in 1894 with the then Grand Jury by which the repair and maintenance of the Lurrig Lane by-roads was undertaken by the former in consideration of the Grand Jury's consent to bylaws for the closing, during firing hours, of the public road which crosses the danger area of the Curragh Rifle Ranges.
The documents disclose certain complications which render it necessary to obtain the advice of the State Law Officers concerning certain. statutory considerations bearing on the incidence of maintenance of public roads.
I hope to be in a position to communicate further with the Kildare County Council at an early date as to a settlement of the outstanding question. Meantime, inquiry is being made in regard to the local complaints referred to in the Deputy's question.