asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware (a) that large portions of the lands of the Devonshire, Toomey and Congreve estates on the banks of the River Bride, County Waterford, are subject to constant flooding involving great hardship and loss to the tenants of the affected lands; (b) that this flooding is due to breaches in the embankments or to the embankments being too low; and, if so, whether he will state what steps he proposes to take to have the embankments repaired, and the lands drained so that they may be brought under production as soon as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding on County Waterford Lands.
The Land Commission have no responsibility for the repair or maintenance of the embankments on the Devonshire, Toomey and Congreve estates.
A trust fund was established to assist the tenant-purchasers on the Devonshire estate in the upkeep of drainage and protective works serving their holdings. The execution of repairs to the works is a matter for the local trustees representing the tenant-purchasers who are responsible for the administration of the fund. In recent years at the request of the trustees the Land Commission have undertaken at the expense of the fund the closure of a number of breaches in the embankments and the repair of sluices. They are not aware that the affected lands are now subject to flooding.
A trust fund was also established to assist the tenant-purchasers on the Toomey estate in the upkeep of drainage and protective works in the townland of Kilwinny. As it was not found possible to secure local trustees to undertake the administration of the fund, the Land Commission arranged for the execution of necessary repairs to the works and proposals are at present under consideration for the replacement of defective sluices. The Land Commission are not aware, however, that the affected lands are subject to constant flooding.
There is no fund for the maintenance of the embankments at Parkdotia on the Toomey estate or at Janeville, Tallow, on the Congreve estate and the Land Commission are not prepared to grant any assistance to the occupiers of the lands in these townlands who are responsible for the maintenance of the works.