asked the Minister for Finance if, further to a reply of 12th February with regard to the carrying out of drainage work on the River Nenagh in the Ballycommon and Ballyartella area, the Commissioners of Public Works were required to serve formal written notice on Mr. Edward Morrissey in regard to the nature of the operations proposed in the Nenagh River drainage scheme to be carried out on the section of the river bordering his lands; and, if so, what were the particulars of such notice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Nenagh Drainage.
20.
The nature and extent of the works proposed on the river adjoining Mr. Morrissey's land were not in any way unusual, and were not considered to require an individual formal written notice. They were outlined in the scheme which was exhibited locally in accordance with the Act for the information of all affected persons.
21.
asked the Minister for Finance, further to a reply of 12th February with regard to the carrying out of drainage work on the River Nenagh in the Ballycommon and Ballyartella area, whether he is aware that the embanking of the river in this case preceded the remedial operations rather substantially, resulting in the formation of an artificial lake over an area of approximately sixteen acres of wheat in 1956; and if he is aware that the water supply installation, blocked within a week after installation in the summer of 1957, was left without attention until October 1959; and that the supply at present tends to cut off when the mill weir sluice gates are open; and whether he will take steps to remedy this situation.
There must always be an interval to allow excavated material to dry out before its formation into an embankment. During that period in this case, a complaint was received about flooding and an inspection showed that about one acre of wheat was flooded by lodged water. Remedial action was taken immediately. A pipe provided in 1957 to convey water through the embankment tended to give trouble and was attended to from time to time, but the defect was not completely eliminated until October 1959. We are not aware that the opening of the mill weir sluice affects delivery through this pipe, but this will now be investigated and necessary action will be taken.
22.
asked the Minister for Finance whether authentic records of the old river level of the River Nenagh in the area upstream of Ballyartella mill exist at present; and if not, if he will describe specifically the precaution taken by the Commissioners of Public Works, when proposing in the absence of such records to interfere structurally with mill weirs, to safeguard the rights and interests of landowners and farmers whose lands border the section of the river affected by such interference.
Records of pre-drainage river levels exist. The weir was rebuilt to the same level as the old one. No drainage works are undertaken without detailed design.
23.
asked the Minister for Finance, further to a reply of 12th February with regard to the carrying out of drainage work on the River Nenagh in the Ballycommon and Ballyartella area, if he will describe in detail the physical features and every other consideration necessitating and justifying interference by the Commissioners of Public Works in this case with the natural drainage and with the regular water supply upon which the farming of the lands in the area normally solely depended.
The relevant physical features were a defective masonry weir without adequate sluices combined with a choked up and silted channel which made the adjoining lands subject to flooding and prolonged waterlogging. This condition was remedied by provision of an efficient weir and sluices, an improved approach channel with embankments, and a back drain which affords deep drainage as well as a water supply for the lands.