asked the Minister for Finance whether it has yet been established that a drainage scheme can be carried out on the River Suck apart from work on the Shannon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage of River Suck.
37.
The engineering survey of the Suck has shown that it is not possible to carry out an arterial drainage scheme on it without seriously worsening conditions on the main River Shannon in the critical section between Athlone and Meelick. Moreover, the Suck as far as Ballinasloe is affected by floods in the Shannon and that portion could not be improved without work on the Shannon. Accordingly it has been decided that a scheme for the Suck must await developments in relation to the main Shannon.
Is it not a fact that a preliminary survey was carried out on the River Suck with a view to diverting the flow of water from the present bed and connecting on to a new channel through the River Hind and into the Shannon well above the town of Athlone? Has such a survey not been made and will the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not it would be feasible to go ahead with this scheme as separate from the major Shannon arterial drainage scheme?
One of the proposals in the Joint Shannon Report which was prepared in June, 1961 is a diversion of the Suck via the Hind River to Loughrea, as the Deputy says. Examination of this proposal will necessitate further survey and presents special problems of site and subsoil investigations. These are being carried out and it is quite possible that we will be able to come up with a feasible scheme.
Do I take it that the further survey to which the Parliamentary Secretary refers is an actual physical survey in the area that still requires to be undertaken? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, so far, we have not seen any engineers or surveyors in the locality?
They have been down there.
Recently?
They have been there examining survey reports. They have to do subsoil tests now.