asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware (1) that after an inspection of the Clonlisk drainage scheme following a sworn inquiry held in Roscrea in February, 1930, certain defects in the scheme were to be righted; (2) whether those defects were remedied; (3) if he will state the report of the engineers from his Department who inspected this scheme last summer; (4) if he is aware that the greater part of the lands in the area is still flooded no maintenance work having been carried out by the Offaly County Council since the taking over of the scheme by the council; and if in the circumstances, steps will be taken to formulate a remedial scheme free of further cost to the ratepayers.
Written Answers. - Clonlisk Drainage Scheme.
(1) The investigator who held the public inquiry in respect of the draft award for the Clonlisk drainage scheme reported that apart from the two minor matters of a maintenance character requiring attention the district was in a satisfactory condition. (2) The final award was issued in July, 1932, and so far the county council has not carried out any works of maintenance in the district. (3) The district was inspected by an engineer from the Office of Public Works in July this year, in compliance with Section 26 of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, and a report on its general condition was sent to the Offaly County Council on 25th September. The report discloses that lack of maintenance has resulted in considerable deterioration of the channels particularly in the more sluggish portions of the district. (4) I have no information as to whether the lands are flooded at the present time. The necessary works of maintenance are the responsibility of the county council and their cost must be borne by the occupiers of the improved lands in the district. The assessment of these lands for repayment of portion of the capital charge leaves an ample margin for maintenance and it is not proposed to provide a grant for the purpose.