asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state if the engineers from the Board of Public Works visited the Awbeg River, near Buttevant, Cork, last November, for the purpose of taking measurements and making a Report; whether the Report and estimate of costs has been prepared and presented, and if drainage operations are likely to start this spring.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - REPORT ON AWBEG RIVER.
It is necessary, before the Commissioners of Public Works can form any opinion on this scheme, that they should have a report from their Engineer on the proposals contained in the Petition under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, and for the purpose of this report the Engineer must inspect the proposed district. This preliminary inspection has been completed and the report will be furnished very shortly. After consideration of this report the Commissioners will have to decide whether the circumstances are such as to justify the preparation of a detailed scheme. If so a survey and valuation of the lands to be drained or improved will be required, and these can only be carried out in low water summer conditions. In view of the preliminary proceedings necessary under the Act, considerable time must elapse before any actual work can be started in the district.