asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend (a) the Feale drainage scheme from Listowel bridge to Abbeyfeale bridge, and (b) the drainage scheme for the Galey river from Moyvane, Newtownsandes, to the Limerick/Kerry boundary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Drainage.
The extensions of the Feale catchment drainage scheme suggested in the question would be so uneconomic that they could not be justified.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that large tracts of valuable land have been flooded during the month of May of this year? Crops have been destroyed. I would ask the Parliamentary Secretary to carry out a reinvestigation and build some embankment to prevent a recurrence of the flooding.
I will do so. At the moment, the report is that, to protect those, you would have to get embankments and they would have to be put so far back that, for the sake of the amount of land that would be reclaimed, it would not be worth it. The Minister met a deputation in the matter and got a report and it has been shown to be uneconomic to do so.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Brick and Cashen drainage has cost £1,500,000 and some of the best land in Kerry is still subject to flooding—in those two areas? I would emphasise the need of a reinvestigation.
asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to start drainage operations on the River Maine.
The design and preparation of a scheme is in hands but, pending compliance with the requirements of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, in regard to exhibition and confirmation of the scheme, it is not yet possible to give an exact date for the commencement of the works.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give the exact date?
I regret I cannot give the exact date, but we expect to start work next year.