andProfessor O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Lands whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that several breaches have been caused by the recent floods in the embankments of the Lower Maine, County Kerry; whether he recognises the urgency of immediate repair of these breaches, and what steps he proposes to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding in County Kerry.
The Land Commission have received representations regarding breaches in the embankments of the Lower Maine River, affecting lands at Brackhill, Ballymacandy, Castlemaine and adjoining areas. They are not responsible for the repair or maintenance of these embankments, but in the circumstances are considering what assistance, if any, they can give.
Would the Minister consider how soon a decision will be come to in that matter?
I cannot say. The matter is being investigated. May I point out to the Deputy that even should the Land Commission decide to approve of works in this area I fear that it will be impracticable to begin the works until the spring.
Can nothing at all be done to prevent increased damage in the meanwhile, between now and the spring, in case other floods should occur?
I do not think so. I shall have further enquiries made, but I understand the inspector's view is that although the tenants were pressing for immediate repairs the work would require to be postponed until the spring.
Nothing can be done to prevent even the damage that is likely to occur as a result of further flooding?
I shall have further enquiries made, but that is my information at the moment.
asked the Minister for Lands whether his attention has been called to the fact that several breaches have been caused by the recent flooding in the embankment of the River Gale, and, in view of the urgency of the matter, what steps he intends to take.
The Land Commission have received representation regarding the repair of damage recently sustained by the River Gale embankments. They are not responsible for the repair or maintenance of these embankments, but in the circumstances are considering what assistance, if any, they can give.
Has the Minister any idea when the assistance will be forthcoming?
The matter is in the hands of the divisional inspector, who is investigating it, and I cannot say when it will be possible to undertake these works. In due course, the report of the inspector will come before the commissioners, who are aware of the urgency of the matter, and I am sure there will be no delay in coming to a decision. As I pointed out in my previous reply, it may take some time, even if these works are sanctioned, before work can be begun.
As the matter is under consideration, will the Minister consider that some at least of these breaches, and possibly all of them, were caused by the state of the river bed, which was very badly choked, and also by the fact that tributaries higher up, and bogs, have been drained, as a result of which the floods have come down faster? Will that be looked into also?
I do not think that is a matter for me. Presumably, the different Departments concerned in this matter will consult with one another, but it seems to me that it is a question for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance.
Do I understand that the Departments concerned will consult with each other——
They have consulted.
——with regard to the embankment?
No, but with regard to the general question.
But will they consult with each other on this particular matter?
Probably they will. If it is found, when the complete report of the Land Commission inspector is available, that it would be of utility to consult with the Board of Works, I presume that such a consultation will take place. As the Deputy knows, it is not the custom of the Land Commission to undertake works involving extensive financial commitments. The amount of money which can be made available for works of this kind has always been rather limited. If there is going to be a general question of draining the whole river, I think that that should more appropriately be taken up with the Board of Works.
I have now grasped that there is no good in approaching the Parliamentary Secretary for the Board of Works to do anything in the matter. Does any Government Department ever think that it is necessary to consult another Government Department about what it is going to do?
The Deputy may be interested to know that a month before the present flooding occurred the Land Commission made an offer to some tenants to have certain works carried out on certain conditions, and the tenants refused. I do not say that these works would have been sufficient to prevent the damage which subsequently occurred and which was on an unprecedented scale, but he is not correct in assuming that Government Departments have not an interest in this matter and have not carried out their duties as well as they can in the circumstances.
The Minister admits that the damage was done on an unprecedented scale. Would not that be a reason for departing from the usual practice?
It might.
May I point out that if damage was feared as a result of bombing or other military activities the Departments concerned would be staying up all night and helping the local authorities to stay up all night to deal with the matter? Could there not be something in the nature of military precision and alertness in dealing with such a matter as this also?
There was no loss of time whatever. The local officers of the Land Commission and the other representatives of the Departments concerned were on the spot at once. Some of these officers have been in Dublin since, and have consulted with the heads of their Departments. The Deputy should be a little more precise in showing where there has been any lack of attention to this matter by the Government.
Do I understand that the loss of time in doing something is to be in the future?