asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that large areas of land are under water for the past year at Tybroughney, County Kilkenny, and at Clashmore, County Waterford, owing to breaches in the embankments of the rivers Suir and Blackwater, respectively, and if he will have steps taken to have the necessary repairs carried out as the farmers concerned are unable to bear the expense.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding by Rivers Suir and Blackwater.
The River Suir embankments protecting the lands of Tybroughney were breached during storms which occurred last winter. In connection with the sale proceedings for the holdings on the estate of F.P.W. Power under the Irish Land Act, 1903, a trust fund, at present held by the public trustee and administered by local trustees, was provided to assist the tenant-purchasers in maintaining these embankments. The interest now to credit of this fund would not be adequate to effect the repairs necessary, but the Land Commission have offered to advance to the tenant-purchasers the balance required to be repaid by means of additional annuities charged on the lands affected. The Land Commission have not yet been informed whether it is the intention of the tenants to accept this offer. The Land Commission have sanctioned expenditure for the repair of embankments in the Clashmore area.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, does the Minister think that the lands will bear this additional burden? I doubt if they will.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I may say that I am well acquainted with the property to which this question refers, and I would venture to suggest that, as a result of this flooding, the lands down there would be useless for years to come. The place concerned is only a couple of miles from my own place. The whole River Suir flows in there and the place is in a desperate condition. I think it is ridiculous that farmers should be expected to borrow money for the purpose of effecting these repairs, because the lands would be valueless for a number of years either to a greater or a lesser extent.