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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 1966

Vol. 220 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Drainage.

17.

Mrs. Burke

andMr. Lyons asked the Minister for Finance when it is proposed to start work on the drainage of the Lung river in counties Mayo and Roscommon, as farmers in the areas concerned have had to endure losses by flooding for a considerable time.

I refer the Deputies to my reply to a similar question last May when I said that it is expected that an arterial drainage scheme for this area will be ready by the end of 1967 and, if all goes well, works will start in 1968.

18.

asked the Minister for Finance if the river from Lough Nananagh to Ballycarrick, County Mayo is included or is to be included in the Moy drainage scheme.

This river is not included in the Moy drainage scheme as confirmed. Representations have been made for its inclusion and these will be examined. I may mention that there are many such applications for extra works and it will be quite a while before they can all be considered.

19.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a full statement explaining the change of circumstances which has taken place regarding the drainage work on the Carrigahorig river, Nenagh, County Tipperary, between a reply by his predecessor of 16th February, 1965 and his own reply of 26th January, 1966.

The circumstances in which it has been found necessary to postpone some capital works are set out in the White Paper on Public Capital Expenditure which was laid before the House in October last. The drainage scheme for the Carrigahorig catchment is one of the works affected.

20.

asked the Minister for Finance what stage the Boyne survey has reached; and when the scheme will be designed and ready for implementation.

The survey of the Boyne has been completed and the preparation of a design and estimate of cost of an arterial drainage scheme is well advanced. I have already mentioned that it is hoped that the scheme will be ready in 1967. Every effort is being made to achieve that but as the project is a very big one many difficulties can arise and it is not possible to be definite. When the scheme is ready the various statutory requirements of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, including exhibition of the scheme locally and consideration of observations of interested parties, will have to be complied with, and accordingly at this stage I cannot say when works could commence.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that one of his predecessors gave February, 1966 as a possible date on which this work would start and will he try to explain why it has taken so much longer than the first estimate?

I am not so aware.

I am not a bit surprised.

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