asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that Bord na Móna, in carrying out development work on Attymon bog, County Galway, have released a greatly increased flow of water to the river running through the townland of Cloonkeen, thereby causing heavy and continuous flooding in lands adjoining the river, and whether he will request Bord na Móna to clean and deepen this river for such a distance west of Cloonkeen townland as will relieve this serious flooding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cleaning of Galway River.
I am informed by Bord na Móna that portion of Attymon bog which is being developed for machine production of turf lies within the Cloonkeen river catchment. The area of the developed bog represents a very small proportion of the total catchment area of this river and the water from that bog cannot be considered, except to a very small extent, to be the cause of the flooding to which the Deputy refers.
I am also informed that the board has plans for the dredging of the Cloonkeen river close to Attymon bog and is also considering a small dredging scheme from a point west of Cloonkeenmore townland towards the railway bridge in the townland of Cloonkeen which should operate to relieve the flooding complained of.