asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state in respect of the year ending 31st March, 1951, the number of schemes under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, so far submitted by Galway County Council to his Department, their estimated cost and the number and amount sanctioned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authorities (Works) Act.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a LeasChinn Chomhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:—
GALWAY COUNTY COUNCIL
LOCAL AUTHORITIES (WORKS) ACT, 1949. PROGRAMME FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH, 1951.
|
(a) Number of schemes submitted |
233 |
|
(b) Total estimated cost of the schemes as originally submitted |
£141,395 |
|
(c) Number of schemes approved to date |
207 |
|
(d) Total estimated cost of schemes approved |
£90,390 |
Note.—A grant of £80,000 has been allocated to the county council for the execution of works under the Act in the current financial year. It is a matter for the local authority to select the approved works to be undertaken under the allocation available.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether proposals under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, were submitted to his Department early this year by the Limerick County Council providing for the completion of certain clearing work on the River Deel, whether his Department refused to sanction the proposals in question; and, if so, for what reason.
The Deputy is presumably referring to a proposal estimated to cost £20,000 submitted in May, 1950, for work under the Local Authorities (Works) Act, 1949, on the River Deel between Rathkeale and Askeaton. Last year the county council completed a scheme on this section of the river for the purpose of reducing the incidence of localised flooding. The work was confined mainly to cleaning of the river and it is understood that it has achieved its object. The proposal submitted this year is not for the completion of last year's work but envisages large-scale work of a different nature. It would involve considerable alterations to the river channel. Work of this type requires highly specialised treatment and is outside the capacity of a local authority to undertake. The proposal was not approved.
Does the Minister say that the work proposed under this year's scheme is different from what was done last year?
Yes.
The Minister is under a misapprehension. I live beside the river and I know what kind of work was done. The Minister and his Department are under a complete misapprehension.
That is a speech.
Is it the position that people who live between Newbridge and Askeaton will be in a worse position now from the point of view of flooding than they have been in the past because the work that was started last year at Rathkeale has not been completed?
That is not so. This scheme was not put forward in the original list by the Limerick County Council but in a supplementary list of May, 1950. In the opinion of the county engineer and my inspector engineer, there is no danger of extra flooding such as suggested by the Deputy. It is not part of the job done last year but is really of an arterial nature.
I saw the flooding there no later than last week.
It is not more than last year, though.