asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the flooding of the houses and lands of the residents of Ardreigh, Athy, Co. Kildare, is a matter of great urgency affecting the public health, and to ask whether he will instruct the District Council as Sanitary Authority to take action in the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS ORAL ANSWERS. - FLOODING AT ATHY (KILDARE).
I have not received any representations on this subject. I understand that the flooding referred to is caused by the River Barrow. The Government are at the moment considering a report on a scheme for the relief of flooding in the catchment area of this river.
Is the Minister aware that the Barrow has nothing at all to do with the flooding of the lands in question? I asked a question last week of the Minister for Finance, and I got a similar answer. Now, the flooding here is not due to the Barrow River at all. I would ask the Minister to get into touch with the District Council, the Sanitary Authority, and instruct them to take steps to have the flooding there remedied. I think from the point of view of unemployment alone the Minister should endeavour to do something. Every time we put up anything that would tend to relieve unemployment it is turned down ruthlessly.
The Deputy can only ask supplementary questions; he cannot make any statement.
In view of the fact that the Government has been considering the question of the Barrow drainage for two years, is the Minister now in a position to say when they will finally have come to a conclusion on this matter?
That question does not affect this particular Ministry.
Will the matter be settled before the next General Election?
No, it will not.