Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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Baineann an rún seo le scéim na bóithrí áise, scéim atá ar fáil agus maoinithe ón Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta agus a bhaineann le bóithre áise, bóithre a théann go minic isteach go dtí tithe agus feirmeacha i gceantracha Gaeltachta. Sa bhliain 2008, cheadaigh an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív, €283,181 do Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall chun obair a dhéanamh faoi scéim na mbóithre seo i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Ach ar an drochuair, níl tús curtha leis an obair sin go fóill.

In May 2008, everyone welcomed the decision of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to allocate €283,181 to Donegal under scéim na mbóithre áise, or the accommodation roads scheme. The latter is similar in purpose to the local improvement scheme, LIS, under which money is allocated on the expectation that the work will be carried out by the local authority — in this case Donegal County Council — based on the fact that authority would have prepared costings in respect of the roads to be repaired. Some of those costings may date back to 2000 or 2001. In the case to which I refer, the anomaly arises because the local authority is arguing that the costings are so out of date in certain instances that there will be a need to review the position.

A dispute has arisen between Donegal County Council and the Department in respect of this matter and the former is seeking additional funding of €93,000 from the latter to carry out the works. The Department's officials in Donegal have done an excellent job in re-examining the allocations and arriving at a solution whereby new tenders will be submitted in respect of the 29 roads on which works are due to be carried out. Under the proposal put forward by the officials, private contractors would be allowed to submit tenders. If the council is not prepared to carry out the works based on the moneys allocated — I accept that some of the costings may have been out of date — private contractors should be allowed to do so.

The Department's officials have recommended that the Minister should approve the proposal to invite new tenders in respect of the road projects to which I refer. I am seeking a commitment from the Minister that he will consider this proposal in the coming weeks. Money was allocated in respect of the schemes relating to the 29 roads to which I refer in May 2008. The householders and farmers who live adjacent to these roads are waiting for the works to be carried out. Those works should be carried out before the onset of winter.

I appreciate that in the current economic climate, it would be difficult to sanction the provision of additional funding. However, that funding was committed in 2008 and there should not be a difficulty. All we ask is that the department locally be allowed to proceed with seeking tenders so that the work could commence. The tenders coming in may be less than the allocation of €283,181 but given the economic climate and the decrease in construction costs, this could be a case for value for money. I hope the Minister can sanction approval in this regard. I look forward to his reply.

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív. I thank the Seanadóir for raising this matter.

In 2008, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs sanctioned a programme of works to the value of €283,181 for Donegal County Council. The county council informed the Department that there would be additional costs of €91,841 to complete the works on 20 of those roads. The reasons given were the increases in the cost of materials and labour, and that the standard of the roads had deteriorated since the estimates on which the grants were based were originally carried out.

The significant increase to the works programme is a matter of concern to the Minister's Department, and his officials are currently examining the case. As the Senator will understand, when spending public moneys it is essential to ensure we get the best value possible.

Other relevant circumstances must be taken into account when decisions are being made on the provision of monetary support such as outstanding commitments, annual budgets and the allocations for the following years.

The economic circumstances of the State have changed greatly in the past year, and therefore the Senator will understand that a final decision cannot be made in this case until the allocations for this year have been carefully examined by the Department. The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, expects this will be done shortly. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.