asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange to have a drinking place provided immediately on the farm of a person (name supplied) in County Meath as his cattle have no water as a result of Boyne drainage operations in the area; and if he will have a fence erected along the river.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drinking Slip.
53.
Mr. Kenny
A drinking slip was provided in this case and no complaint in regard to it has been received by the Commissioners of Public Works. Neither has a request been received from the landowner in question for the provision of fencing along the river. I am now arranging to have these matters investigated.
A gentleman told me that he is drawing water for his cattle and there is no water in the river——
A question, Deputy.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary is he aware that there is no water there for the cattle and this man is carrying buckets of water for his cattle? Will the Parliamentary Secretary make an immediate investigation to try to provide water for those cattle?
Mr. Kenny
It would be almost an impossible task for me to provide water if the water is not falling out of the heavens into the stream. The stream is there and there is water in it. It would not be a stream if there was no water in it.
This is like a quotation from Genesis.
Mr. Kenny
A slipway was provided but, owing to the nature of the land, it had a narrow bottom and the cattle going down there fouled it all up. We could not go back and do this remedial work. Such work is dealt with on a recoupment basis and the person involved can do the work himself. Before he does the work, he should get a guarantee from the arterial drainage people that they will recoup him. He should not do any work without getting that guarantee first. As for the fencing along the river, if there was fencing before arterial drainage work started, we will replace the fencing. As for the water, I cannot guarantee that.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary arrange for one of his inspectors to call down and see this gentleman and make suitable arrangements with regard to the water?
Mr. Kenny
If the Deputy supplies me with his name and address I will have somebody call on him.