asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that in a letter dated 11th October, 1925, the Secretary of the Board of Public Works informed the County Council of Kildare that certain work involving an estimated expenditure of £4,300 was about to be carried out on the River Lerr in Counties Kildare and Carlow, to the cost of which work the County Council was invited to be contributory, and for which landholders in the drainage district would be liable to the extent of 4/9 per acre; that at the meeting of the County Council several members acquainted with the district expressed the opinion that, inasmuch as the stream had been kept in good order by annual expenditure of money through the Lerr Drainage Committee, the proposed operations were unnecessary; that their conclusions were confirmed by the Committee named and also by their engineer; that without any further communication the Board of Works began the work, upon which over £4,000 has already been spent and a further sum of £1,500 is estimated for its completion; that landholders bordering the river assert that no benefit has accrued or can accrue to them on account of the undertaking, and if he will cause inquiry to be made as to the reason for proceeding with the work.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RIVER LERR (KILDARE AND CARLOW) DRAINAGE.
The Kildare County Council were informed on the 4th July, 1925— not 11th October—that the Commissioners of Public Works had been authorised by the Minister for Finance to carry out a general restoration of the rivers and streams in the River Lerr Drainage District, under the Drainage Maintenance Act, 1924. The work commenced on the 25th of that month and was continued until the 9th December following, and the expenditure for that period amounted to £2,500.
On the 23rd March, 1926, the Secretary of the Kildare County Council forwarded to the Commissioners a copy of a resolution passed on the 16th idem, protesting against the expenditure as unwarranted and inquiring on whose initiative the work was undertaken. On the 7th ultimo the Council were informed that the Commissioners were satisfied from the information they had that the district was not properly maintained, a conclusion which was confirmed by their engineer's report after inspection. It was at the same time intimated to the County Council that if the latter thought it desirable the Commissioners would recommend the extension of the period of repayment from 10 to 15 years and thus reduce the average annual charge from 4/9 to 3/7 per acre. There is no reason to expect that the estimate for the work—£4,300—will be exceeded.
Arising out of that answer, will the Minister inform the County Council at whose instance the work was initiated?
The work was initiated at the instance of the Commissioners of Public Works.
And against the wishes of the people concerned?
No, sir.
In view of the fact that there are over 3,000 unemployed in the Co. Kildare, will the Minister give instructions to the Commissioners of Public Works to improve all the other drainage districts in the county? From what I have heard, the work carried out in the Lerr Drainage District has been exceptionally well done, notwithstanding what Deputy Conlan says.