andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Local Government if in view of the cost and complexity of road-making and repair machinery now available and of the difficulty which the poorer counties experience in purchasing such equipment he will consider rationalising road-making and repair procedure by the establishment of a national road-making authority, financed centrally, which would, by means of regional groups, ensure that in both the construction and maintenance of main and county roads such machinery would be freely available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Road-making Authority.
39.
There would be serious organisational and administrative difficulties in the way of a central road authority on the lines suggested and I am not satisfied that it would either benefit the national economy or meet with the approval of local interests. As regards the considerations advanced by the Deputies in support of such an authority, there is no indication that the costs involved in securing the use of necessary road machinery is imposing an undue strain on local resources. In general, machinery costs are charged to the works on which the machines are engaged and in this way over half the cost of all road machinery is met out of the Road Fund. As regards items of modern road plant which are particularly complex and costly and which may be needed only periodically, road authorities may hire such machines and charge the costs to grant in appropriate cases.