asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the inequity of the present system of placing the responsibility for, and cost of maintenance of arterial drainage on ratepayers; and if he will introduce amending legislation to make maintenance a national charge on the Exchequer.
Ceisteanna—Questions (Resumed). - Cost of Maintenance of Arterial Drainage.
14.
The full cost of the construction of drainage works is borne on State funds and I do not agree that there is any inequity in requiring that the cost of maintenance of the completed works should be a local charge. It is not proposed to introduce amending legislation in the matter.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is grave discontent where drainage is completed or under way in one portion of a county and another portion has not yet come under the Act or is awaiting the coming of arterial drainage? The latter people are grumbling seriously at the delay and at the fact that they have to pay the cost of maintenance of the other portion, while they themselves are getting nothing under the Act at the moment. Would the Minister consider, at least until arterial drainage is completed, basing the cost of maintenance on the Central Fund?
The Deputy's supplementary question does not affect the principle of imposing the cost of maintenance on the local authority, in any way that I can see. I understood from his question that he was challenging the principle of making local authorities responsible for maintenance costs. Apparently, he has something else in mind.
What I have in mind is exactly what appeared in the question, that it is not equitable to ask a whole county to bear the cost of maintenance, where drainage is done in portion of a county, until all the arterial drainage work is done in the county. Until that time, the Minister ought to bear the cost of maintenance and then consider the question of putting the maintenance cost of all the arterial drainage on all the ratepayers in the county. That is not an unfair suggestion.
In view of what the Deputy says, I am sorry I shall have to delay the House and read out his question, which is:—
"To ask the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the inequity of the present system of placing the responsibility for, and cost of maintenance of arterial drainage on ratepayers; and if he will introduce amending legislation to make maintenance a national charge on the Exchequer."
That is precisely what I mean.