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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Jun 1960

Vol. 183 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Water Supply on Kildare Farm.

38.

asked the Minister for Lands what progress has been made in providing a water supply for cattle on the farm of Mr. M. Boland, Bishopslane, Ballymore-Eustace, County Kildare; and how the matter now stands.

Further work has been carried out by the Land Commission on the artesian well on these lands. Subsequent pumping and analytical tests have confirmed that the quality and supply of water from the well is satisfactory and adequate for the livestock capacity of the 37½ acre allotment to which this allottee was migrated from a 10½ acre holding.

Will the Minister say when this man is likely to be assured of the continuous supply of water which was promised to him in 1955?

I do not think the Deputy is aware of all the facts.

I know much more about them than the Minister does. He knows nothing of this whatever.

This allottee took the engine out of the pump supplied to him by the Land Commission and put it into a shed for the purpose of crushing turnips. How could he expect to get water then?

I want to ask the Minister a few positive questions. Does he deny that his Department promised this man a supply of water as far back as 1955; does he remember that anybody in the area could have told him that there was no suitable supply of water in the area where the Land Commission were looking for it; that at one stage the Land Commission accepted this fact and tried to get water for him from the Poulaphouca Lakes or from Russborough? Is the Minister aware of the fact that there is water on this very holding which would supply the three allottees but, because of the monumental stupidity with which the Land Commission handled the matter, the position now is that two people have more water than they want and that the third cannot get water? Is the Minister aware that approximately £1,000 of the taxpayers' money has been spent and that there is still no water for this man?

This man got a present of £3,000 from the taxpayers. Adequate water has been found in the well that has been sunk but I am aware that if you take an engine out of a pump and use it to crush turnips it is no use to pump water.

Why does the Deputy say £1,000?

It is more than £1,000.

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