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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 May 1970

Vol. 247 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Longford Water Supply.

34.

asked the Minister for Lands (a) if any further progress has been made to overcome the delay in supplying water to persons (names supplied) who got land on the Walsh estate, Moatfarrell, County Longford, and who were promised water by the Irish Land Commission before they got the farms and (b) the date of allocation of this land.

As regards the first person referred to by the Deputy the ESB are installing an electric pump and they expect to have the work satisfactorily completed this week. For the purpose of providing a field-supply for the other persons mentioned, a bore was recently made to 200 feet but no water was found. An alternative site has now been divined and a further bore is to be made. It is expected that a well-drilling machine will be available for this work next week. I might point out that there is a great scarcity of ground water in this part of County Longford and drilling conditions are very poor.

The lands concerned were allocated in March, 1964.

Is the Minister aware that those people got this land six years and two months ago? There are something like eight families there —36 children, 54 people in all. Since that time while the people have sinks and toilets et cetera installed they have no water. Many of those farmers are engaged in dairying. Would the Minister not agree that this is a disgrace? I have been asking questions about this problem since 1966 and I always get similar answers. It will be completed next week or the week after.

Is the Deputy seeking information?

I am asking the Minister. The Minister says there is an electrical drill unit there and the work will be completed next week, but there were no men working at it last week and there have not been since March.

Since the Deputy nearly fell down this well a couple of months ago, one of them has been provided with water.

I did not fall down this particular one.

If he falls down the other one, at least he will not drown because there is no water at the bottom of the 300 feet.

I do not know where the Minister may have been last night when he makes that suggestion. I have never fallen down this well nor any other well.

This is not a subject for Question Time.

Would the Minister say when these farmers, who got land from the Land Commission six years and two months ago and were promised water, will get water? Both their wives and families are suffering hardship and the farmers themselves because they are engaged in the milk industry. When will they get water? Never mind me or anybody else falling down a well.

If the Deputy has a water diviner he would be able to locate the water and then we could go and get it.

Have the Land Commission not got water diviners? Why should they bore 300 feet and find no water? Surely they have experts to tell them. Why do they not link up with the main which is less than a mile away and about which I asked a question in 1966?

That is a separate question.

No, it concerns the same thing, the plight of these people.

The diviner's stick must not have been working too well because the original bore was divined and now another one has been divined.

Surely the farmers are not responsible for the diviner's stick?

It looks as if we shall need Divine help to get water.

I know the Government want Divine help and the sooner they get it the better.

The Deputy would like to think they do.

We all know they do.

(Interruptions.)
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