asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware that the Kerry County Council requested his Department to arrange for the repair under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, of roads and bridges damaged by storms in South Kerry in August, 1949; and, if so, whether he is now in a position to sanction the necessary grants for the carrying through of these urgent schemes at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for County Kerry Schemes.
In the case to which the Deputy refers, the county council submitted three schemes, under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, for the repair of sudden damage to roads and bridges caused by a heavy storm in 1949. The works in question are not for the protection of property from flooding and I have been advised that they do not come within the scope of the Act.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the bridges in question were destroyed by recent floods and that, consequently, considerable hardship has been experienced by the people in the district? Is the Parliamentary Secretary further aware that the Kerry County Council submitted a case to the Department that, in their opinion and in the opinion of their engineers, these repair works should come within the scope of the Local Authorities (Works) Act, especially having regard to the fact that it is in the public interest that these repairs should be carried out?
I am aware of the hardship which has been caused but I think that even the Kerry County Council themselves accepted that the repair of these bridges could not be undertaken under the Local Authorities (Works) Act. I have only to refer to Question No. 44 on to-day's Order Paper to point out a similar case of a bridge which was damaged in 1949 by a storm and where the council themselves have proceeded to re-erect the bridge.