asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a special grant to relieve the serious flooding of a number of holdings of persons at Ballyealan, Blue Ball, Offlay, where the road has been flooded to a depth of four feet for the past three months with the result that there is no entry or exit to their holdings; and if he will make arrangements for the planning of a suitable scheme to give immediate relief from the appalling conditions of land owners and their families in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding of Offaly Holdings.
9.
The only proposal that can be traced for the area referred to is in a rural improvements scheme for the repair of a road in the townlands of Ballyealan, Mullaghcrohy and Lugamarla, leading off the Mountbolus-Black Lion county road by the farmhouses of a number of landholders and ending at Patrick Daly's house, Ballyealan. An offer of a grant of £351, subject to a local contribution of £151, towards a total estimated expenditure of £502 was issued on 11th January, 1961, but has not, so far, been accepted. The scheme provides for the raising of the road at a number of points where there are depressions liable to become waterlogged. If the Deputy should have some other case in mind, further enquiries will be made on his furnishing details, including the names of the landholders served.
Perhaps in view of the fact that the school children in the area are unable to attend school and that the local residents cannot go to either Church, Mass or meeting except by a right of way across a ploughed field kindly given by a generous neighbour, would the Parliamentary Secretary cause special inquiries to be made so that a grant might be given in this connection?
An offer has been made to the representative of the interested parties, Mr. Stephen Carolan of Mountbolus, but it has not been accepted.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary be kind enough to ascertain, through the Board of Works, if the Land Commission would give a generous contribution to this work?
I am afraid that is not the usual practice. Apart from the fact that I am not certain that this is the road in question——
It is.
The facts stated by the Deputy do not correspond with the report given by our engineer. According to that report the road is not bad as the Deputy indicated.
I can assure the Parliamentary Secretary that the road is that leading to Mr. Patrick Daly's house and that it is in a most desperate condition.