Grants for bog road improvements
O’Leary sought funding for county councils to repair and improve bog roads, including through the Temporary Youth Employment Scheme or transferred departmental funds. Kavanagh said the scheme’s criteria did not cover this work, agreed councils were well placed to do it, and agreed to discuss a possible transfer with colleagues.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will make special allocations of grants during 1983 under a scheme, such as the temporary youth employment scheme, to county councils to enable them to repair and improve bog roads.
Comment on this
I assume that the Deputy is aware of the powers county councils have to construct and improve bog roads under the Local Government (Roads and Drainage) Act 1968 and the provision in the Turf Development Act 1981 under which financial assistance may be provided for the improvement of access roads to bogs in connection with the development of the bogs.
As regards the Temporary Youth Employment Scheme, under existing criteria funds are not available to county councils for the repair or improvement of bog roads. Grants are made available under the scheme for the employment of young people on desirable community works of a type which would not otherwise be undertaken in the normal course at the present time. The position would be similar in the case of the other youth employment schemes such as the AnCO Community Youth Training Programme and the Environmental Works (Youth Employment) Scheme implemented by local authorities. In addition, to qualify under the AnCO Community Youth Training Programme a project must contain a training element.
Comment on this
Will the Minister agree that county councils are the best equipped and organised to carry out work on the repair, improvement and maintenance of bog roads? If the Minister so agrees will he consider transferring money from the Department of Industry and Energy to the Department of the Environment under the Turf Development Act for distribution to county councils?
Comment on this
I agree with the Deputy that county councils are probably the best agency for repairing bog roads but it is not my function to transfer money from the Department of Industry and Energy to any other Department.
Comment on this
Will the Minister discuss with his colleagues the possibility of transferring money from the Department of Industry and Energy to the Department of Local Government for allocation to county councils in view of the fact that he agrees the councils are the best organised agencies to carry out repair and improvement works on bog roads?