asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the general dissatisfaction and hardship caused to tenants of Menlo village, Galway by works on the Corrib/Clare drainage scheme and by the delay in paying compensation for disturbance of their lands, he will indicate the dates on which claims will be paid and the cause of the delay in finalising this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Drainage Scheme.
13.
These compensation cases have been very troublesome. They concern about 50 acres of poor moory land in 50 plots varying from one rood to five acres with undefined boundaries and there is confusion as to the extent and ownership—several of the reputed owners were unable to point out the boundaries of their plots. It was only after much correspondence and discussion with the solicitors concerned that specific claims were formulated. Offers of settlement based on the advice of a qualified valuer have been made but the offers have not been accepted. Those negotiations took a considerable time and the inevitable delays were not all on one side. In a further effort to settle the claims amicably and to avoid the trouble of formal arbitration, which would be difficult for all parties in the involved circumstances, the Commissioners of Public Works have arranged for their valuer to discuss the matter again with the solicitors next week.