asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether the drainage works constructed in the townlands of Ardamagh, Keelagh, Mullaloughter and Mullacrogher, Ballyhaise, under the relief schemes, were carried out under the supervision or according to the plans of a competent engineer; whether he is aware that the excavation work done there at a cost of £200 is rendered useless, as the sides of works have fallen in, and whether immediate steps will be taken to inquire into the way the money is at present being spent there with a view to having more benefits brought to the district.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DRAINAGE WORK UNDER RELIEF SCHEMES (CO. CAVAN).
Mr. HOGAN
The work referred to was a cutting with a view to providing outlet for drainage from a lake to allow turf cutting along its banks. The work was started by the local farmers according to the plans of a local engineer, but was not completed. As there was a great deal of unemployment in the district the Land Commission completed under the relief schemes the cutting, which was through a hill and reached a depth of 25 feet. Last February, owing to very heavy rains, the banks slipped and the hill cutting was abandoned. The Land Commission then had the original outlet drain cleared and rocks removed, with satisfactory results.
Is the Minister aware that the original plans of the local engineer made allowance for constructional work, including the putting down of piping in this drain, and that these plans were entirely ignored? Will the Minister further inform me if this work carried out under his Department was under the supervision of any competent engineer, or was it merely left to a number of unskilled workers without any engineering knowledge to do this work?
Mr. HOGAN
Of course any work of this kind is carried out under the supervision of the Land Commission engineers. These engineers are recruited for a purpose quite different to the class of work for which engineers are recruited for the Board of Works. That shows the difficulties of a body like the Land Commission, a body which exists primarily for the division of land, having to do work which is not their function at all.
Would the Minister make further inquiries to find out whether money is not still being spent, and that the work is still going on, and see if the money cannot be better spent in putting in piping in the original work?
Mr. HOGAN
I will make inquiries, but I gather that the Land Commission ceased work there, and transferred their activities to the original outlet which they cleared.
Would not the Minister consider it desirable on occasions of this kind to consult with an engineer from the Board of Works?
Mr. HOGAN
In cases of this kind?
Of any kind.
Mr. HOGAN
They should not be put into work of this sort at all.