This Bill is one which in the ordinary course would come under Standing Orders dealing with the passage of private Bills and the confirmation of Provisional Orders. As, however, no such Standing Orders have yet been adopted, and as this Provisional Order and the matter it deals with have been held up for a considerable time, I am bringing in a public Bill to deal with it. If there were any opposition to the Bill I would not proceed with it, but would let the matter wait over until we have Standing Orders, when the matter could be dealt with in the usual course, However, I think it is one about which the Dáil need have no hesitation.
The object of the Provisional Order is to enable the Rathdown No. 1 Rural District Council to acquire certain lands and certain water rights for the purpose of providing a water supply in three or four townlands, particularly in Balally. The proposal was first put forward in 1911. At that time it was opposed by the owners of the water rights and by the Dublin Corporation, which desired to supply the district with Vartry water. The negotiations were still going on when the European War broke out, and the whole matter dropped. In the present year the Council again made application for a Provisional Order, and a local public inquiry was held. At that inquiry there was no opposition. The Dublin Corporation no longer desires to supply Vartry water to that area, and the owners of the land and the water rights were satisfied to allow a Provisional Order to be made, and there was no opposition.
An inquiry was held by an Engineer of the Local Government Department. The scheme proposed is a sound scheme. The parties concerned have no desire to oppose it, and notice has been sent to them that this Bill, confirming the Provisional Order, is being brought forward. If any of them were to object at this stage, of course it would be necessary that further stages of this Bill should be suspended. If, however, no opposition is forthcoming, and there are no grounds to believe any opposition will be forthcoming, I think it would be well that the Oireachtas should pass this Bill and enable work to be begun. The Council is very anxious to begin work, and of course nothing can be done until the Provisional Order is confirmed and they are enabled to acquire the lands and water rights. I move the First Reading of the Bill.
