asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state if his Department has received a request from Cork County Council asking that an expert drainage engineer be sent to Skibbereen to survey the district and to make recommendations as to measures to be adopted for the purpose of alleviating the flooding that is occurring there; if he is aware that those floods affect some 150 houses; and, if so, if he proposes to accede to the council's request.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding in Skibbereen.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I understand, however, that such a request was made by the Cork County Council to the Commissioners of Public Works, who intimated that they were not in a position to assign a drainage engineer to make a survey of the Hen River.
So far as my Department is concerned, I would refer the Deputy to my reply of the 29th November, 1944, to his previous question in the matter, to which there is nothing to add.
Is the Minister aware that three serious floodings took place in the town of Skibbereen and the health of the people there was endangered? Does the Minister not consider it his duty to come to the assistance of the urban council in Skibbereen which cannot afford, because of its poor financial position, to undertake work of this nature?
I have already pointed out that no application has been made to me. An application was made to the Commissioners of Public Works, but, even if the application were made to me, I could not accept responsibility in this matter.
An application was made to the Commissioners of Public Works and they referred me to your Department. Is the Minister aware that a scheme of this nature would mean the employment of an engineer of great skill and would he not be prepared to make one of his engineers available for the drafting of such a scheme?