asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the people of several townlands in the Lacken, Ballina, area, have to wade through the tide, partly dressed, on their way to Mass in Lacken parish church; and if so, what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Flooding.
I regret that I can be of no assistance in this matter. As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy's question on the 28th February, 1952, the nature of the work involved and its estimated cost places it outside the scope of the minor schemes carried out by my office.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that during the by-election in North Mayo members of the Fianna Fáil Party went into the Lacken area and assured the people of Lacken that if they elected a certain individual this work would be undertaken? In view of that statement, coming from a member of the Government, would the Parliamentary Secretary take steps to see that this deplorable state of affairs is remedied once and for all and not have the people of the Lacken area, as indicated in the question, wading through salt water, knee deep, in the year 1953, on their way to Mass? In a Catholic country I think that is a disgrace.
I am not responsible for any statements made by anybody but myself. I can assure the Deputy that I was very guarded in my statements in North Mayo.
Ask Deputy Kennedy what statements were made.
What did you do about them for three and a half years?
Did they not go to Mass at all in 1951?
It is good fun to laugh at them now.