asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware that a number of holdings of Land Commission tenants in Ballyealon, Blue Ball, Tullamore, Offaly, have been flooded for the past three months; that in one case the water in the fields is five feet in depth; that the main road leading to the houses has four feet of water in places; that there is no entry or exit except through a ploughed field, the use of which has been given to them by a neighbour; if he will make an immediate investigation into the appalling conditions of the tenants concerned, having regard to the fact that their children cannot attend school and that for the past three months they themselves have been isloated; if the Land Commission will complete the drainage operations which they commenced when they allotted these lands to the tenants; and if they will arrange to remedy this position without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding of Offaly Holdings.
If the flooding referred to has occurred on the lands of Ballyealon on the former Richardson Estate, the Land Commission have no liability in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that, when the lands were being allotted to the local tenants some time ago, drainage works were carried out but, for some reason or other, subsequently ceased? The fact that they were not carried out has resulted in the deplorable state of affairs prevailing in the area at the moment.
I am aware that the lands were allotted 23 years ago and that in 1954 special works, including the cleaning of a drain and the raising of a road, were carried out by the Land Commission for the purpose of relieving flooding. These works were carried out on the specific undertaking of those concerned that they would maintain them if they were carried out. No complaint has been received in my Department since 1954 until the Deputy's Question was tabled. I would suggest to the Deputy that he might advise these people to live up to their undertaking and maintain the drains provided for them.
Surely the Minister must understand that, as a result of the unusual circumstances prevailing in the area, there is about nine feet of water on the land at present? That is a new circumstances that was not prevailing in 1954.
The information available to me is that it is only in exceptionally had weather that the flooding occurs. As I have already stated, no official complaint was received from these people since 1954. I reiterate that these people undertook to maintain the drainage works provided for them and if there is flooding there now it is their own making in not maintaining the works provided for them.