asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that about three hundred acres of land at Mornington, Multyfarnham and the Mornington-Crookedwood Road, County Westmeath have been badly flooded since November 1965; and what action he intends to take to alleviate the flooding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding of Westmeath Land.
15.
This area was excluded from the Inny drainage scheme because no satisfactory outfall could be found for portion of the area and the estimated cost of the works requried in the remaining portion would be excessive in relation to the value of the lands affected. With a view to ascertaining if some improvement works would be feasible, the Office of Public Works engineers have been re-examining the area but their report will not be available for some time.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there are eight to ten farmers living in that area and that half to three-quarters of their land is flooded, that some of their cow byres and sheds are flooded and in one case a man's dwellinghouse is flooded? Further is he aware that the road has been blocked since 16th November, or for over three months, and that these farmers to get to the far side of their lands, have to travel a distance of eight miles instead of 200 yards? Surely the Board of Works should be in a position to do something to alleviate this flooding?
As I told the Deputy, there is a question of an outfall in this particular area. I am also aware that it has been raining very heavily for the past three months and land generally throughout the country is in a fairly waterlogged condition. I did say also that this particular area is being re-examined to see if anything can be done about it.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give me any promise? There is certainly an outfall, and an excellent outfall, but the only thing is that there is a 12-inch pipe which has been blocked and there is six feet of water on this particular roadway at present.
The country is in liquidation in every sense.
It might have been better if they spent the £25,000 which they spent in Lagos on this matter.