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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Jun 1970

Vol. 247 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Flooding.

14.

asked the Minister for Finance when the drainage system will be implemented to obviate the flooding of lands in the area adjacent to Tacumshane Lake, County Wexford.

15.

asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the grave urgency of the matter, he is yet in a position to indicate what steps he proposes to take to prevent the flooding of a huge area of arable land viz., Tacumshane lake, County Wexford.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

The Tacumshane catchment is noted for consideration in the arterial drainage programme, but owing to present commitments and the extent of the drainage problem generally I cannot say when it will be reached.

It is rather a coincidence that when I asked this question six weeks ago, my colleague from Wexford, Deputy Browne, became involved in it as well. Am I to take it that, every time I put down a question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, the purport of that question is reported to my colleague in the Fianna Fáil Party?

That is happening.

It is happening all over the place. They get the information first.

It is a separate question.

The Deputy misunderstands the position. Deputy Allen and Deputy Browne invited me down to see this particular problem. I arranged for the senior engineer of the OPW to consult with the county engineer. The OPW engineer came to the conclusion that there was a coast erosion problem there. We suggested to the councillors there to make application under the Coast Protection Act and we may be able to deal with it in that way.

In 20 odd years.

Is it not a fact that the Parliamentary Secretary had a caucus meeting down there consisting of himself and the two Fianna Fáil Deputies and that they have done nothing to further the interests of those affected by flooding from this lake. Would it not be fairer to acknowledge to the people of Wexford that he intends to do nothing?

The Fianna Fáil Deputies asked me to go down to look at this and another problem in their constituency. I did so. As I could not come to a conclusion, I got my senior engineer to go down as a result of which it may be possible to get a scheme to deal with this matter in a couple of years time.

Further arising——

I am calling Question No. 16.

Am I to take it that if I have any particular problem there which I consider needs attending to, the Parliamentary Secretary will be very co-operative with me and come down?

(Cavan): No. You would have to be a member of the Fianna Fáil Party threatening to kick over the traces.

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