asked the Minister for Lands if he will state his reasons for not replying to two letters from the secretary, Castlemartyr Development Association, requesting the Department's contribution as property owners to a rural improvement scheme for the alleviation of flooding in Castlemartyr district; if he has since signified to the development association the Department's willingness to pay the contribution; and if he will guarantee the future cleaning of the Department's portion of the river.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Alleviation of Flooding in Castlemartyr.
The Deputy is referring to letters received from the Castlemartyr Parish Council, all of which have been answered.
Flooding in the Kiltha river and Womanagh river catchment areas is a major problem requiring extensive work under the Arterial Drainage Act. I would refer the Deputy to the letter addressed to him and to other local representatives on July 29th, 1958, by the special employment schemes office.
I can assure the Deputy that the Forestry Division will co-operate in every way in any co-ordinated scheme for the alleviation of flooding which may be undertaken under the aegis of the special employment schemes office.
Is the Minister aware that the non-payment on the part of his Department of their due share of this money has held up that scheme for the past four months and has committed the people to a second flood?
That is not so. If the correspondence is carefully examined, it will be found that the main difficulties have been those in connection with the preparation of the drainage scheme, its desirability and its position in regard to the work of the employment schemes office and the arterial drainage scheme.
Has the Minister yet signified his intention of paying the Department's portion of the money that has been paid to the employment schemes office?
Did I understand the Minister to say that the Forestry Department will pay their share of the contribution towards the rural improvements scheme for the Forestry Department's property as well as other private property?
In this particular case, the Forestry Department are prepared to enter into a co-ordinated scheme of drainage and prepare whatever documents may be necessary under this scheme.
Could I get a reply to my question as to whether the money has been paid by the Minister's Department or not?
The scheme has not reached a point where payment is made. If the Deputy makes inquiry from the employment schemes office he will find I am right in what I say.
No. 70.
The inquiries I made were from the secretary of the parish council.
Order! No. 70.
He informed me he had written to the Department three times and received no reply. That is not the first time it occurred.