During the recent Saturday meeting of the Limerick County Council, chaired by Mr J Ryan, a letter from the Local Government Board was brought to the Council’s attention. The letter pertained to the direct labour scheme for the county of Limerick. The Board informed the Council that they had the power to proceed with the provisional reconsideration of the declaration at their annual meeting in October, as per the existing order of the 5th April 1902. However, they noted that the change from quarterly to half-yearly meetings in the Board’s order of April 1902 might pose a challenge for introducing a new scheme by the 1st of April next year.

Under the current circumstances, the final adoption of the new declaration would have to be postponed until the Council’s half-yearly meeting in April 1906, followed by a waiting period for appeals from rural district councils and the Board’s decision on the matter. Recognizing the inconvenience of being unable to deal with road matters between 31st March and the Board’s final decision, the Board offered to amend their order of 5th April 1902 to allow the Council to consider the new scheme at a special meeting scheduled shortly after their next half-yearly meeting, provided the provisional declaration is made during the latter meeting.

Lord Emly proposed that the Council request the Local Government Board to facilitate an amendment to the 1902 order, enabling both the County and Limerick Councils to prepare a new scheme if they deemed it necessary. Mr Larrington seconded the motion, emphasizing that the resolution would not commit the Council to anything; rather, it would provide the flexibility to adopt or reject the new scheme as they saw fit.

Lord Emly’s resolution received unanimous approval. Furthermore, it was decided, at the suggestion of Lord Ewly and seconded by Mr Larrington, to instruct the County Surveyor to prepare maps, plans, mileage schedules, and other necessary documents for the Council’s consideration and potential adoption of the new direct labour scheme, commencing on the 1st of April 1906.

Limerick Echo – Tuesday 22 August 1905