asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the Mayo County Council have struck a drainage rate for the Saleen drainage district (Castlebar area) so high that it is beyond the capacity of the riparian owners to pay and, considering the fact that the proposed works benefit a large bog and not the riparian owners, if he is willing to carry out the proposed work as a minor relief scheme, or otherwise make a grant for the carrying out of it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Saleen (County Mayo) Drainage District.
The Minister has no information on this subject other than that contained in the question. The only funds available for relief schemes are those of the Employment and Emergency Schemes Vote, and, prima facie, these could not be utilised for the purpose of relieving a county council or any other body of any responsibility they may have in the matter of maintaining a drainage district.
I think the Parliamentary Secretary has rather misunderstood my question. I am not asking to relieve the county council; I am asking to relieve the persons who have to pay the drainage rate. I want to know, in regard to this particular drainage district, which is not designed to help the riparian owners so much as the cutting of turf in a large bog, whether some of the money available for minor relief schemes could not be devoted to the cleaning of this drain.
The Deputy is, of course, aware that this is a 1924 Act case. He is aware, I am sure, that a sum of some £18,000 was spent under the 1924 Maintenance Act in that year; he is aware, I am sure, that the State made a contribution of 25 per cent. of that amount; and he is aware that the district went to award in 1930 and that the advance made will not be repaid by the riparian owners until 15 years afterwards; and that, while that is the position, the county council is responsible according to law for the maintenance of that district, both during that period and afterwards.
The Parliamentary Secretary has given me a lot of information which, possibly, I already have at my disposal. What I want to know is whether any money will be made available now to do the extra work which is now necessary on this drain, because extra work is being done this year and an extra rate has been struck.
It is the legal responsibility of the county council to maintain the district that was improved and reconditioned in 1924 in the manner I have described. Surely, if it is their responsibility, it is not suggested that they should be relieved of it by making available to the district a minor employment scheme entirely from State funds?
I am afraid that I am suggesting that this extra work should be done as a minor relief scheme. Would the Parliamentary Secretary answer yes or no to that?
It cannot be done as such.