asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what arrangements, if any, exist for repairing or maintaining the roads constructed by the Irish Land Commission on estates which have been divided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maintenance of Land Commission Roads.
In general, responsibility for the repair and maintenance of roads constructed by the Land Commission for the benefit of allottees on the division of untenanted land rests on the allottees. In many cases such responsibility is specifically undertaken by the allottees.
The matter of the maintenance of the roads should be arranged by cooperation among the local allottees, and should not cause any hardship if minor surface damage is attended to promptly as it occurs.
Though it is not the function of the Land Commission to undertake the repair and maintenance of roads constructed by them, in some exceptional cases they have effected necessary repairs as a matter of grace and not of obligation. In suitable cases the Land Commission endeavour, and often with success, to get the local authority to take over and maintain such roads.
Is that not the purpose for which rural improvement grants are available from the Board of Works?
I am afraid the Deputy will have to ask the Board of Works.
It would not be much for the Minister to know.