Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Jun 1962

Vol. 196 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois and Offaly Road Repairs.

23.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to complete work on the repair of the worst sections of the accommodation and bog road from the county road at Mr. Martin Brennan's house, south to the county road at Mr. Thomas Murphy's house with a branch west to Mr. Eugene McMahon's bog at Cuddagh, Castletown, County Laois; the amount of grant already provided for this work and the amount spent on (a) labour and (b) materials; and if a further grant will now be made available to complete it.

24.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance the date on which he received a certificate for the completion of work on the repair of the worst sections of the existing road and branches from the county road one hundred yards west of Mr. Michael Carroll's house north-west to the end of the existing road in Drought's bog, and the repair of two branch roads (a) from the main bog road at the corner of Scally's wood north-west to Patrick Daly's turf bank, and (b) from the main bog road north-east towards Mr. John Scully's turf bank at Ballywilliam, Kilcormac, County Offaly; the amount of grant provided for this work; the amount spent on (a) the existing bog road and (b) each of the two branch roads referred to; the amount spent on wages and materials in respect of this work; and if he has at present an application in his Department for a further grant in respect of the completion of these works.

25.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance what is the position in regard to the general repair of the worst sections of bog road from the Portlaoise-Mountmellick road at Clonsoghey bog, west and north to the end of the county road 150 yards south of William Culleton's house, O'Moore's Forest, Mountmellick, County Laois; if he is aware of the great number of users of this important bog road; and if he is satisfied that sufficient funds have been made available to complete this work in a satisfactory manner.

26.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to repair the worst section of bog road from main Forest Upper bog road, west by Mr. Patrick Kearney's turf bank to Miss Teresa Cox's turf bank at Upper Forest, Mountmellick, County Laois; if he is aware that this road is at present in a very bad state of repair and unfit for the transport of this season's turf; and if funds will be made available without delay for its general improvement and repair.

27.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide additional money to repair the worst sections of bog road from the county road at Mr. Séamus Delaney's land, east to Mr. William Joe Bergin's turf bank on Clashroe Mountains, with branch east to Mr. William Bastick's bank and branch east to Daniel Culleton's turf bank on Pollduff Mountain, Clashroe, Roscomroe, Roscrea, County Offaly; if he is satisfied that the amount of grant provided was sufficient to carry out this work in accordance with the wishes of the many local users; and if further money will now be made available for this work.

28.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

asked the Minister for Finance the date on which work was completed, and the amount expended in wages and materials, on the repair of the worst sections of bog road from the Edenderry-Rathdangan road at Mr. Peter Usher's house, east to the gate and bridge into John English's land at Derries, Edenderry, County Offaly; if further money will now be made available in order to put this bog road into an improved state of repair so that it can be used by the many local turf-cutters in a satisfactory manner; and if he is aware that this is one of the busiest bog roads in the area and of great importance to local residents and others.

Mr. O'Malley

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to answer Questions Nos. 23 to 28 together.

These six roads were satisfactorily repaired last winter and no additional expenditure is proposed at present on any of them. They will if necessary be considered for further grants when next winter's programme of bog road works is being prepared.

The grant for the first road was £150 of which £106 was spent on labour and £37 on materials.

The certificate of completion for the second road was received on 14th December, 1961. The grant was £200. The expenditure on the branch roads is not recorded separately. The amount spent on wages was £94 and on materials was also £94. I can trace no recent application for a further grant in that case.

Work on the sixth road was completed on 9th December, 1961. The expenditure on wages and materials was £42 and £38 respectively.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

Is it not a fact that the county engineer has made representations to the Board of Works with a view to obtaining a further grant?

Mr. O'Malley

I did not hear the Deputy.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, is it not a fact that the county engineer has made representations to the Office of Public Works in respect to the provision of further moneys?

Mr. O'Malley

No.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if it is a fact that the county engineer's office has been in touch with his Department in connection with the road mentioned in Question No. 28?

Mr. O'Malley

If the Deputy wants a civil answer, I will give it to him.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

That is what I have been trying to get since the Parliamentary Secretary was appointed.

Mr. O'Malley

No. 29.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

I notice, Sir, that the Parliamentary Secretary is now taking over your job. I will not take it from him. I shall keep putting down these questions every week and they will be answered.

Mr. Moher

Bog trotters.

Mr. O.J. Flanagan

And glad to be. We are very glad to be associated with the bogs.

Mr. Moher

For how long?