asked the Minister for Finance if he will make arrangements at an early date to dredge and clear the river Gueestin which flows through the parishes of Ballyhar and Listry, County Kerry, into the River Laune.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - River Drainage.
36.
The River Gueestin is in the Laune catchment and the Commissioners of Public Works could consider carrying out drainage works only in the context of a comprehensive scheme for the entire catchment area. The Laune has been listed for consideration under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, but it would not be possible at this stage to say when it may be reached in the drainage programme.
37.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a special grant towards the draining of the Lung river between Roscommon and Mayo with a view to relieving the serious flooding of thousands of acres of land.
The Commissioners of Public Works have no funds out of which such a grant could be made. Their sole power to execute drainage works derives from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, and relates to the carrying out of comprehensive schemes on a catchment basis. A scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, is being prepared for the Boyle catchment of which the Lung river forms part but it would not be possible, at this stage, to say if or when works might be undertaken.
38.
asked the Minister for Finance when work will commence on the Corrib/Mask/Robe river in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In this case the Commissioners of Public Works have prepared a drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. It is necessary to place the scheme on exhibition in the district, to invite the observations of the various interested parties and to consider all these observations. Arrangements for exhibition of the scheme are at present in train.
It may be necessary to amend the scheme in the light of the observations received before it would be in order for submission to the Minister for Finance for confirmation.
All going well it is hoped that it may be possible to have works commenced by the end of next year.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say how far down the list of priorities that scheme is?
As I have indicated, all going well it is hoped that it may be possible to have works commenced by the end of this year.
I understand these schemes are 1, 2, 3 and so on on the list. What I want to know is, where is that scheme on the list?
Number 4 on the priority list of major catchments.
39.
asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the need for dredging the Awbeg River in the vicinity of the bridge at Doneraile, County Cork; and, if so, the action he proposes to take in the matter.
The Commissioners of Public Works could undertake drainage works on the Awbeg river only in the context of a comprehensive drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, for the entire Blackwater catchment in which it lies. The Blackwater is included in the priority list of major catchments but I cannot say at this stage when it will be reached in the arterial drainage programme.