asked the Minister for Lands what is the present position in regard to the scheme for the provision of new housing for persons in the Shannon Valley who suffer from flooding; how many houses are envisaged; how many have been completed, and when the scheme is likely to be finalised; whether he is aware that houses of people in the Clonowen area of Athlone are under water to the extent of one foot in places; and, if so, why alternative accommodation under the new housing scheme has not been found for people in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Persons Affected by Shannon Flooding.
39.
This scheme provides for a maximum of 76 housing projects. The number completed is 31. An additional 18 are under construction and are expected to be completed within a few months. Some farmers in Clonowen have so far failed to co-operate in the scheme and cannot be helped until they do so.
Is it not a fact that in the Clonowen area of Bunniribba there are three. Houses which have been flooded for the last ten days to a depth of one foot? In the village of Cunny two Houses have been flooded, and there are young children in the houses. In the village of Drumlosh another house has been flooded over the same period. So far, the Land Commission have made no proposal and no effort to give alternative accommodation to a number of these farmers.
I do not accept the Deputy's allegations. In the Clonowen area some of the people have failed to co-operate. The scheme is rather like a rearrangement scheme and needs the co-operation of the people concerned. Some will not migrate although holdings have, been offered to them. We also have some people there who will not accept the sites suggested by the Land Commission, and want to build on sites which, in the view of the Land Commission, would be again flooded. That is one of the problems in the area.
I do not wish to delay, but I must tell the Minister that his information is inaccurate. With regard to the three houses I have mentioned in the Bunniribba area, there should be no difficulty with regard to alternative sites for the simple reason that the Land Commission have not made my proposals to these people since the original scheme was envisaged. How can it be suggested then that these people have failed to co-operate with the Land Commission? The Minister's point with regard to one or two not co-operating is perfectly correct, but I suggest it is unfair to blame all the people——
The Deputy is making a speech.
——and allege that they are refusing to co-operate.
I have answered the question in the form in which it has been put to me. I have told the Deputy there are people in the Clonowen area who are not co-operating. I cannot say whether the Deputy's allegation about some three people he has in mind is right or wrong.
It is a big area.
There are people in the Clonowen area who are not co-operating with the Land Commission. If the Deputy has any individual cases he wants to put to me, he should communicate with my Department.