I regret very much that I have to raise this question on the Adjournment to-night. However, in view of the fact that I have questioned the various people in charge for the past three years in connection with drainage and have met with failure on all occasions, I think it is essential that, in the interests of my constituents, I should raise this matter to-night.
The question which I raised with the Minister for Finance was one in connection with the drainage of the River Suck. I asked the Minister if he would state when the survey for the arterial drainage scheme for that sub-catchment area was likely to commence. The reply I got from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister was that he is not in a position to say when the survey of the River Suck catchment area is likely to commence. I live in close proximity to this river, and it borders my constituency for practically the entire length of the county. I might say also that the Parliamentary Secretary himself has an interest in the drainage of this river. Apart from his duty altogether as a Parliamentary Secretary, he has duties as an elected T.D. for a constituency which is in close proximity to this river also. He is just as familiar as myself with the problem that arises there each year in connection with the dreadful flooding that occurs. I was absolutely dumbfounded to-day at the answer I received from the Parliamentary Secretary, because I was under the impression, and so were many of my constituents and Deputy Beegan's constituents as well, that this particular catchment area was going to receive priority treatment in the very near future.
However, the answer given to-day has made me, for one, realise that the problem of drainage will not evidently be tackled in a serious manner by the present Administration. This particular river drains a large area of land. Apart from the type of land that it drains, the question must be taken into consideration of the number of people who make their living on that land. I understand—and in this I may be open to correction—that the old priority list of drainage schemes that existed before the inter-Party Government came into office in 1948 was made out on the basis that good land must be drained first and that was the only thing taken into consideration. When the inter-Party Government came in that priority list was changed and other factors were taken into consideration such as the number of families which had to depend for a living on land that was subject to flooding. I want to put it to this House that on the land attached to the River Suck catchment area there are more people living to the square mile than are living on land adjoining any other catchment area in Ireland.
That, of course, raises, straight away, the question of the human element. I, for one, believe that, when there is a large number of families living on land in close proximity to a river that is liable to overflow at certain times of the year, that area should get priority and that particular river should receive first consideration. It is all very fine for us to say that good land needs drainage but if there are very few people owning that good land or very few families making their living on it, I think that the catchment area adjoining that land should remain lower down on the priority list than a catchment area adjoining land where a large number of families have to make their living.
The Arterial Drainage Act was passed in 1945. I seriously believe that, from 1945 on, when that Act was passed—I can only go by the references made in this House and by the speeches made by men who were Ministers at that time—Fianna Fáil were not keen on going ahead with the drainage works at a fast rate. That can be borne out by the fact that it was decided by Fianna Fáil that they would spend no more than the sum of £250,000 per year on arterial drainage. If the Fianna Fáil attitude with regard to arterial drainage is that they are not prepared to spend any more than £250,000 per year, then I can quite understand why the survey of the River Suck will not be carried out in the near future. A further proof that Fianna Fáil do not take drainage problems seriously is the fact that they opposed the Local Authorities (Works) Act under which a tremendous amount of drainage could be done.
