asked the Minister for Lands if his Department has any objection to the repairing by county councils of bog roads vested in the Land Commission; and, if not, if the Land Commission will agree to have these roads taken over and maintained by the various county councils.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bog Roads Maintenance.
46.
(Cavan): As I have indicated in reply to a recent parliamentary question, the future maintenance of roads made or repaired by the Land Commission in connection with the division of bogs is the responsibility of the parties who use the roads.
The Land Commission would in general have no objection to county councils taking over and maintaining such roads and indeed they would cooperate in the matter wherever possible.
Is the Minister aware that, owing to the fuel shortage, the Land Commission gave out bogs some years ago but they did not make any roads? These people are applying now for the local improvement schemes. As the Minister is aware these schemes are for repairing roads and not for making them. Therefore the money cannot be spent on this type of road. Would the Minister consider spending money on making the base of roads so that the work could be done by LIS schemes. If there is no road there the LIS money cannot be spent on the roads. Would the Minister consider spending some money on bog roads?
(Cavan): I do not think the local improvement schemes are confined to repairing roads. Secondly, the Land Commission are not a road making or a road repairing agency. Work of that nature falls to be done by the local authorities.
The LIS schemes are for repairing existing roads, as far as I know.
A question, Deputy Callanan.
Would the Land Commission provide some sort of road and then let the LIS do the repairs from that on?
(Cavan): As I stated in my reply to the question, the Land Commission, when they allot land, provide roads; but thereafter they do not accept responsibility for the maintenance of these roads.
Question No. 47.
I fully appreciate what the Minister is saying
Question No. 47 has been called. I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude. He should appreciate it. Next question.