asked the Minister for Local Government if in view of the many unsightly and damaging drains beside main and county roads he will arrange for county engineers to have a certain amount of the moneys allocated from the Road Fund spent in cleaning and maintaining them so as to improve the appearance of the countryside and ensure that roads will not be damaged by flooding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cleaning of Roadside Drains.
32.
The type of work referred to by the Deputy falls to be carried out as part of the normal road upkeep operations of road authorities and would, therefore, be financed in the same way as other upkeep operation towards which, in the case of main roads, a 40 per cent. grant is available. It is for the road authorities in the first instance to select the works to be carried out under their road works schemes.
If the county engineers fail to make provision for the cleaning and maintenance of the drains would the Minister indicate what steps the county council can take to ensure——
Get the Local Authorities (Works) Act going.
The solution to the Deputy's problem will be found in the circular issued by me about 18 months ago. As a result of that circular the elected members of a local authority may dispute the proposals of their county engineers and, so disputing, furnish my Department with their recommendations in lieu of those made by the county engineers, on which my Department will then adjudicate and decide which of the two forms of work will be undertaken.
In view of the importance of this work would it not be more effective if a direction went from the Minister's Department to the county engineers concerned?
As I have already indicated, works to be carried out under Road Fund grants are, in the first instance, a matter for the local authority. I should be very loath to interfere by way of ministerial direction as to how local authorities should do their job.
Ask them to reintroduce the schemes that were scrapped under the Local Authorities (Works) Act.
Would the Minister not agree that a good deal of the trouble referred to by Deputy Kitt would be obviated if he had maintained the Local Authorities (Works) Act grants, grants which would have been recouped in their entirety?
This is an argument and not a question.
It is a good argument.
It may be a good argument, but that does not make it a question.
Would the Minister not implement the annual direction given by his own Party at the Ard Fheis to re-implement the Local Authorities (Works) Act?
That scarcely arises on this question.
I am quite satisfied the council involved are well able to look after their own affairs and will use their common sense in making amendments to the engineer's proposals in this matter.