asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that a scheme (No. 699) under the Local Authorities (Works) Act for the cleaning of the Smaghraun river has been submitted to his Department by the Roscommon County Council; and, if so, whether he will sanction the scheme so that the necessary work can be completed while weather conditions permit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Smaghraun River, Roscommon.
The scheme to which the Deputy refers has been included in the programme of works for 1951-52 under the Local Authorities (Works) Act proposed by the Roscommon County Council. This scheme together with others included in the programme are at present under consideration in the Department, and a decision thereon will be conveyed to the local authority as soon as possible.
In connection with this particular scheme, is the Minister aware that the Forestry Department are very anxious that this river should be drained because they want to go ahead with a planting scheme there towards the end of the year?
I must admit I am not so aware, but I would like the Deputy to understand that the departmental inspector engaged on certain work and the engineers of the county council were applying themselves in the past months to schemes which will have an effect upon turf production. It is only now, therefore, that these people are free to examine schemes of the type to which the questions refer.