asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what moneys were set aside and in what years for the upkeep of the Multeen stream, Donohill, Thomastown; what the interest earned on this amount of money would have been; and whether there is at present anybody employed to keep the stream in proper condition.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Upkeep of Tipperary Stream.
I have no information regarding this matter.
With your permission, I wish to say that this is an artificial stream serving a fertile but waterless portion of County Tipperary, planned and engineered probably 100 years ago and maintained even by the British Government and by successive Governments. It starts in the parish of Donohill and proceeds along to Thomastown Castle, where the great temperance reformer, Father Mathew was born.
Will the Deputy ask a question now?
The powers that be always attended to it and it is necessary for a most fertile portion of County Tipperary. I consider the Parliamentary Secretary's answer unsatisfactory.
We have no information regarding the setting aside of moneys for the upkeep of the Multeen stream. Inquiries regarding this matter were made in the Department of Finance, the Irish Land Commission, the Department of Local Government and the special employments scheme office and they have no information on the subject.
I have a recollection for more than 40 years of one family having charge of this—the O'Doherty family. It is a one-man job, but at some seasons of the year he had to employ another man. There must be something wrong with the official records.