(Cavan), Mr. O'Reilly, Mr. Cooney, Mr. L'Estrange, Mr. Conlon and Mr. Fox asked the Minister for Finance if priority will be given to the drainage of the River Erne in order to relieve flooding in vast areas of land in Counties Cavan, Longford and Monaghan to render this land productive in view of the importance of agriculture in these counties in the EEC context; and when work will commence on this river and its tributaries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Erne Drainage.
30.
Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick
The Erne is No. 10 on the priority list of major catchments on which the arterial drainage programme has proceeded. I would refer the Deputies to my statement on arterial drainage policy on the 17th November, 1971, when introducing the Vote for Public Works and Buildings for the current financial year.
Further progress in relation to a number of arterial drainage schemes including that for the River Erne catchment must await the results of the cost/benefit study which is being undertaken.
(Cavan): What kind of study?
A cost/benefit study.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Board of Works informed Cavan County Council in 1969 that the design for a scheme for the drainage of the Erne was completed at that stage? Is he also aware of the great hardship suffered by riparian owners whose land is waterlogged and who will be unable to improve its fertility until the main drainage is completed? Could the Parliamentary Secretary give an approximate date for the commencement of the scheme?
This matter is under a complete review. It is true that the part of the Erne that is entirely within the Twenty-six Counties was undertaken. Under the present method of assessment draining this land would be most expensive—at that time it was £168.7 per acre—and more than would be normally acceptable, but in view of the fact that it would benefit the Counties of Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan it is possible that the Government would look at it in a special light. Unless they decide to make funds available specifically for the Erne under the Arterial Drainage Acts in the normal way it would hardly begin in this decade.
(Cavan):
Do I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say the scheme is not likely to start before 1980?
About 1982.
(Cavan): I urge the Parliamentary Secretary to impress on the Government the necessity for making special funds available in this case because most of the farmers concerned are small farmers and every acre of land is of the utmost importance to them. Will the Parliamentary Secretary impress on the Government the necessity for providing funds in this case, particularly as I understand that the portion of the Erne in Northern Ireland has been dealt with?
Arterial drainage is one of the major capital services in which the Government have decided to carry out a formal cost/benefit analysis to assess the economics of the service and the results of the analysis could also affect the future of arterial drainage programmes. It would seem to me that this scheme might benefit more than others from this analysis from the information I have to date, but it will be some time before we shall have that analysis.
(Cavan): That is very grand and I am thankful to the Parliamentary Secretary for what he has read out but could I get an assurance from him that, knowing Cavan as I am satisfied he does, he realises this is a very important matter and that he will bring his local knowledge and his influence to bear on the Government to get priority for this drainage scheme?
I am anxious to see all these priorities re-examined but until such time as we get more data I am not prepared to make any commitment.