asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that farmers who carry out land drainage schemes grant-aided by his Department cannot get county councils to sink or deepen gullets under the public roads to take the increased flow of water because the councils have not the finance to carry out such schemes; if he will arrange for his Department to pay the councils for such work under the land drainage scheme based on estimates supplied by the councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Land Drainage Schemes.
171.
The position is that where, as part of an approved scheme of field drainage, work on a county road — including bridges and culverts — is undertaken with the consent of the local authority a grant of up to 100 per cent of the approved costs of a group project or 70 per cent of an individual scheme is paid for such work subject to normal cost/benefit criteria.