asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of the distress caused to farmers of the Maine valley by the recent storm and, further, whether he is aware that owing to the delay in having the arterial drainage scheme carried through in the lower reaches of the Maine valley, embankments have been destroyed; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have a survey of this area carried through immediately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maine Valley Survey.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state when the work of draining the River Maine will be carried out and what place this scheme occupies on his Department's priority list; further, whether he will consider having the machinery which is at present being used on the neighbouring Brick and Cashen scheme transferred to the Maine valley as soon as the Brick and Cashen scheme is completed.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. I have nothing to add at this stage to the statements which I made in reply to similar questions last session. These were to the effect that a complete and detailed engineering survey of the Maine catchment area will be necessary for the purpose of formulating a comprehensive scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945; that I am not in a position to make a definite statement as to when a survey can be undertaken and a scheme can be prepared and that, in consequence, I cannot say whether the machinery at present in use on the Feale, even if it were suitable for work on the Maine, can be transferred to that area on completion of the Feale scheme.
As regards the question of priority I have already indicated that it was necessary when the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, came into force, to draw up a provisional programme of work, but that programme was not made public then or since and it is not proposed to publish it now. No rigid schedule of the order in which drainage schemes will be undertaken has been settled.
Is the Minister aware that in the priority list of arterial drainage schemes compiled in 1945 the Maine drainage was fourth in that list; in 1948 the Corrib was given priority? Will the Minister now take steps to ensure that justice is done to the farmers in the Maine valley in this matter?
I have stated that there was no rigid priority list. There is no rigid priority list at present and circumstances such as engineering staff available and other factors will enter into the priority given to any scheme in the future.
Including pending by-elections.
In view of the unsatisfactory position I would ask the Chair's permission to raise this matter on the adjournment.
This honeymoon is being very abbreviated.
He has forgotten he has been absorbed.
Will Deputies who are interrupting please indicate when they will allow the questions to proceed?