asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he received the certificate for the completion of the work on the worst sections of the bog road from the Portarlington-Clonsast county road at Mr. John Maguire's house east to William Greane's turf bank north to Benny Weldon's bank and south to Patrick Finlay's bank; if he is satisfied that the estimate was sufficient to carry out a satisfactory job on the branch roads leading to these turf banks; and if he will look further into the matter with a view to an additional grant.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leix and Offaly Road Repairs.
12.
The certificate of completion was received on 12 March, 1962. I am satisfied that the grant was sufficient to carry out a satisfactory job.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is not conveying to me that the road leading north to Benny Weldon's turf bank and south to Patrick Finlay's turf bank is completed? Is the Parliamentary Secretary confirming here and now that the work is completed?
It is.
May I put it to the Parliamentary Secretary that the road leading to Benny Weldon's turf bank is not repaired, and has not been repaired. In view of that, will he now take the matter up with the engineer who gave the certificate saying that work was completed.
No.
I put it to the Parliamentary Secretary that the road has not been repaired.
I have a certificate of completion, which I am accepting, that the work was carried out.
What was the date of the certificate of completion?
12th March of this year.
13.
asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he received the certificate for the completion of work of repair to the worst sections of the accommodation and bog road from the county road at Joe Brooke's house south by Patrick Drennan's entrance gate to Michael Campion's turf bank, west to Thomas Harford's turf bank and east to Luke Byrne's turf bank; if it is a fact that money ran short for the completion of this work in a satisfactory manner; and if a further grant will be made available without delay in view of the general use of the roads to the turf banks concerned.
The full grant in this case has not yet been expended. In view of local representations made to the county engineer by some of the beneficiaries he suspended work on the scheme and asked the Special Employment Schemes Office for instructions as to the manner in which the balance of the grant should be expended. The necessary instructions issued to him on 14th inst. Work on the road will shortly be resumed.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if the work which is to be resumed is the work on the road leading to Luke Byrne's turf bank? Is that the work the Parliamentary Secretary has in mind?
Yes, I think so.
The Parliamentary Secretary is not paid for thinking in this House. He is paid to give us the facts. I am asking him if the work to be resumed shortly is work on the road leading to Luke Byrne's turf bank?
That would be correct.
14.
asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he received the certificate for the completion of work on the worst sections of the accommodation and bog road from the county road opposite George Keye's house south west to William Meredith's turf bank, south to Thomas Keogh's turf bank and north to the turf bank of Mr. Charles Conroy at Togher, Clonaddadoran, Portlaoise, County Laois; what was the actual amount spent from this grant on (a) wages to workers and (b) materials etc. for road repairs; and if he will make an additional grant to complete the work.
The certificate of completion was received on 11th April, 1962. The expenditure on wages was £58 and on the supply and delivery of materials was £88. I do not propose to make an additional grant available at present as no further work is now required.
15.
asked the Minister for Finance when he received the certificate for the full completion of work on the worst parts of the accommodation and bog road from the county road west by James Clancy's house to the bridge over the Little River, at Galcross, Cush, Cloghan, County Offaly; and if he is satisfied that sufficient money has been made available for this work.
The certificate of satisfactory completion which I am accepting was received on 26th January, 1962.
Is it a fact that work was carried out on the worst parts of this road? Does that not clearly indicate that the road is in a very, very bad condition? Only the worst sections were repaired. Will the Parliamentary Secretary now make additional money available to put the road generally into repair?
No. My engineers are quite satisfied with the condition of the road.
Does that mean there will be no further grant this year?
In accordance with the usual practice, it will be considered with all the other claims that come up for the winter programme.
The Parliamentary Secretary will consider it?
It will be considered, yes.
16.
asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the grant spent on (a) labour and (b) the repair of the accommodation and bog road from the county road at Martin Ward's house south by Bernard Dolan's house and east to the bog gate at Cappancur, Tullamore, County Offaly; when he received the certificate for the completion of the work; and if in view of the small grant provided for the road improvement he will undertake a further inspection with a view to providing an additional grant.
The amount spent on labour was £17 (approximately). The total grant was £60. Through a misunderstanding the work was not put in hands until 23rd May and it was completed on 26th May. The certificate of completion has not yet been received, but I am satisfied that no further work is required at present on the road.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us any information about the misunderstanding to which he referred? What was the misunderstanding?
It was due to the overlapping of two areas under two assistant county engineers. It was purely internal. The position has now righted itself.
Were the two engineers going to spend the one sum of money?
No. There was a misunderstanding as to different areas within the bailiewick of two assistant county engineers; there was a misunderstanding as to the areas covered by each. That has been cleared up, and the work has been done.