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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Nov 1968

Vol. 237 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Moy Flooding.

9.

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the very serious damage caused by the recent flooding of the River Moy, despite the operation of the arterial drainage scheme; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.

Arterial drainage schemes are not designed to prevent all flooding—it would be entirely uneconomic to do so. The recent abnormal rainfall—4" in 40 hours— produced flows exceeding the design capacity of the River Moy scheme and led to some flooding of short duration. The improved channels functioned very satisfactorily and were able to clear the floods in two days in the worst hit areas; formerly this would have taken weeks.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that scores of people had to flee their homes and that crops, particularly potatoes, were ruined as a result of the flood? Is he further aware that Ballylaghan Bridge on the main road between Foxford and Castlebar was flooded to a depth of 18 inches? I saw the flooding and the evacuation of the people. What steps does the Parliamentary Secretary propose to take to prevent this happening in the future?

The Parliamentary Secretary can take no steps whatsoever to prevent the incidence of extremely heavy rainfall, but I would point out to Deputy O'Hara that this particular rainstorm between 30th October and 2nd November was the worst in living memory; four inches of rain fell in 40 hours and this produced flooding, not only in the Moy area but all over the West. I am aware of the losses sustained by the people, not only in the Moy valley but in the country generally and particularly in the West where the storm was most severe. The work done on the Moy Drainage Scheme proved very satisfactory indeed in coping with that rainstorm because the flooded areas were cleared very rapidly.

May I point out to the Parliamentary Secretary——

Has the Deputy a question to put?

Certainly. May I inquire if he is aware that on this occasion, though it could easily have happened, there was no snow on the mountains? I admit the rainfall was extraordinary, but is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that people have lost furniture, crops and everything and are living in terror, particularly in Foxford, Twomore, Meelick, Straide, Clongee and Ballina, of a repetition of this flooding?

The Deputy must be aware that rainfall of this severity is very unusual. No similar rainfall has been recorded in that area for the last 80 or 100 years.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply—this is no laughing matter—I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment of the House tomorrow evening.

It will be necessary for the Deputy to give notice tomorrow.

At what time?

In the morning.

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