asked the Minister for Local Government if he has issued instructions to Wicklow County Council that all road reconstruction work must in future be made by tar macadam and that the appropriate plants for this purpose must be procured before grants are made available; and, if so, if he will state the reason for these instructions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wicklow Road Reconstruction.
The answer in the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise. There has, however, been correspondence with the Wicklow County Council regarding the resurfacing of the main street of Bray where a section of the work was done last year in premixed macadam. The Department's technical advisers consider that the resurfacing should be continued in this material in view of the heavy traffic which this road carries.
Is the Minister aware that it was a condition that the county council would not receive a grant unless it was tar macadam, which would mean the purchasing of machinery; and the Minister for Industry and Commerce states they are luxury goods if imported into this country?
I have stated what the position is, as I know it.
But this year the Minister made it a condition that unless they completed the job with tar macadam and purchased new machinery they would not receive the grant.
We have advised them as to the use of tar macadam but we have not conditioned that by insistence on the purchase of machinery.
Oh, yes.
I am telling a lie so?
They have to purchase machinery.
How could they lay tar macadam without machinery?
Where did they get it last year? If they could get it last year, why could they not get it this year?
It is the Minister's job to answer that.