asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state his reason for refusing to make an order closing a disused portion of public road T 31 at Clogharboy, Athlone, County Westmeath.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Westmeath Road.
66.
The order made by Westmeath County Council under section 76 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, provided for the extinguishment of the public right of way over a distance of 483 yards of road which has been replaced by a new stretch of road. At the public local inquiry held in connection with the order, evidence was given on behalf of the council that due to the need to preserve access rights for some of the property owners affected by the order, the council wanted to modify the proposal to confine the extinguishment to a length of 325 feet of road and to retain the public right of way over the remainder. As I had no power to modify the order in this way, I had to reject the order in its entirety.