asked the Minister for Lands if the Land Commission will improve bog roads or prepare a scheme of grants for the improvement of such roads to enable a large quantity of turf to be produced this year.
37.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Road Works.
36.
Mr. Kitt
asked the Minister for Lands if he will ensure that suitable roads will be provided to service the Bellew and Blakeney Bog, County Galway, supplying approximately 65 tenants from the villages of Mount-bellew, Ballinahattina, Lehenagh, Gallagh, Crannagh, The Islands, Greenville, Lisnagree, Newtown, Bovinion, Ashfield, Course and Castleblakeney, to enable the tenants to have their turf cut by machine and to have it saved and harvested as a matter of urgency in view of the present fuel crisis.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions No. 36 and 37 together.
Mr. Kitt
I cannot understand this. My question is a specific one about specific villages.
There must be some mistake.
It is a question for the Minister. The Chair has no choice in the matter.
The Land Commission are not a road authority except to the limited extent that they sometimes construct new, or improve existing roads in connection with the division of particular lands or bog. On the completion of such work, the maintenance of the roads is the responsibility of the users who may, of course, apply to the county council for repair assistance. The Land Commission have no current dealings relating to the Bellew and Blakeney bog and so have no function in regard to provision of roads there.
Mr. Kitt
I should like the Minister to ask his colleague, the Minister for Lands, if he has heard that I led a deputation to the Land Commission office in Galway. They were to send up a scheme to Dublin for these roads. The tenants have now committed themselves to engage a turf cutting machine and they have paid a deposit of £10 each on it. How are they going to get this turf out of these bogs if the Land Commission do not come to their assistance? In the local Land Commission office I was told the request was being sent to the office in Dublin. I want to know did that ever arrive.
I will convey the Deputy's view to the Minister for Lands.
Mr. Kitt
Very good but I am afraid that will not be the end of it.