asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the date when he received a communication from the secretary of the Offaly County Council containing a copy of a joint report from the county surveyors of Laoighis and Offaly giving details of the large mileage of roads in a very bad condition and recommending the appointment of a permanent gang of road workers; if he was requested to receive a deputation for the purpose of discussing the contents of the joint report; and if he will now state what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Condition of Offaly Roads.
I have not received any communication from the secretary to the Offaly County Council in this matter. I received communications from the Deputy and from Deputy Boland covering copies of a joint report which does not make any recommendations. I am not aware whether the report had been submitted to the county councils and I have no information as to what aspects of the question it is desired that a deputation should discuss with me. Until I receive fuller information from the local authorities responsible for the maintenance of the roads and for the employment of labour for that purpose I would not be in a position to decide whether the matter could be advanced by the attendance of a deputation.
Is it a fact that in the joint report a recommendation at the time was made, at the unanimous request of the county surveyors concerned and the managers of the two counties, and is he not aware that there is a recommendation contained in the report for the appointment of a permanent gang of road workers?
The report I received from the county surveyors is not of a sufficiently detailed character, and the recommendation is so vague as to be useless for the purpose of discussing the matter with a deputation. I shall be glad to go into the matter further when I have received more information.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary make further inquiries in order to find out what is the meaning of the proposal, which, apparently, he does not understand?
The matter is being examined.