asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of the serious flooding which has occurred in the Williamstown area of North Galway, and whether his Department has carried out a survey of the area, and, if so, whether it is proposed to start drainage operations there to prevent a recurrence of flooding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North Galway Flooding.
The area referred to is in the Suck catchment which is at present being surveyed with a view to the preparation of a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that serious flooding has occurred in the Abbeyknockmoy-Turloughmore area of North Galway, and whether his Department has carried out a survey of the area, and, if so, whether it is proposed to carry out drainage operations there to prevent a recurrence of flooding.
The Abbeyknockmoy-Turloughmore area is in the Corrib-Clare catchment and will derive considerable benefit from the comprehensive scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, which is now in full progress in that catchment.
Are the Parliamentary Secretary and the Board of Works prepared to sit idly by and carry out no work even of a temporary nature to alleviate the distress which the people in this area are suffering? Is he aware that no Government Department has raised a finger to assist these people?
In the very area to which the Deputy refers, Abbeyknockmoy-Turloughmore, at the moment we have 11 excavators working there and 150 men employed. I am sure the Deputy got the Book of Estimates— probably he did not read it—which was sent out to every Deputy, which indicates that this year under subhead J (2), £150,000 will be spent on that scheme. I cannot work miracles.
The Parliamentary Secretary must know the area referred to is not directly concerned with the area flooded out.
Of course it is.
The Parliamentary Secretary actually made a statement at a meeting in Tuam——
He has done more than you did, anyhow.
You made promises in Tuam, too.
Do not be jealous.
There is nothing being done for these unfortunate people.
What did Fianna Fáil do towards drainage in Galway?