asked the Minister for Finance the amount of silt removed from the Meelick Weir on the river Shannon in 1986; the length of time the machinery was in operation; if the work carried out was successful; if he is aware of the quantity of silt which is in the new cut at Meelick; and if his Department have any plans to remove it.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - River Drainage.
7.
Meelick Weir is 1,000 feet long. In August 1986 a floating excavator was in operation for five days to remove accumulated weed growth and a small amount of silt from the upstream side of the weir. The works were completed satisfactorily. I am not aware of a silt problem in the new cut at Meelick.
I compliment the Minister and the Minister of State for the improvement works carried out at Meelick Weir in August 1986.
(Interruptions.)
Is the Minister aware of the tremendous advantages that even this small amount of work brought and the contribution it made towards lowering the level of the river and would he request his Department to carry out a detailed survey of what is known as the new cut? This is a river which was sunk many years ago but which has now completely silted up as a result of silt from Bord na Móna. Would the Minister have this river surveyed with a view to having the silt removed, thereby lowering the level of the river Shannon still further?
(Interruptions.)
Is the Minister aware that a considerable amount of land along the Shannon has been flooded for the last two years?
I am glad to know the value that has been obtained from the work carried out. I am aware of the Deputy's representations which dealt with it——
(Interruptions.)
This is back scratching exercise No. 1.
I undertake to investigate the statement the Deputy has made that there is a silt problem in the new cut. However, my information is to the contrary.
Question No. 8.
Just one last question. In view of the number of interests involved in the Shannon, such as OPW, the ESB, the Inland Fisheries, Bord na Móna, and all the other bodies which have a vested interest in the Shannon, will the Minister agree that there should be an overall Shannon authority to control the River Shannon over the next two decades?
I am prepared to consider that.
Will the Minister inform the House where the silt which was removed upstream of the River Shannon was deposited? Is the Minister aware of the widespread flooding of the River Shannon and of the need for compensation for those badly affected, along the river banks and of the fact that over £400,000 in compensation was unspent last year? Will the Minister consider allocating some funds to relieve the problems in that area?
Deputy Leyden should have done like Deputy Naughten and put down a question if he wanted answers to all of those things.
(Interruptions.)
However, the silt to which this question refers was at Meelick Weir and it has been removed——
Where?
——thanks to the work of the Office of Public Works which was brought about by representations from Deputy Naughten.
(Interruptions.)
All the Shannon Deputies have come to light.
(Interruptions.)
The silt has gone back into the River Shannon further down the river. It was not removed at all.
If the results of the removal of silt have been so good, could the Minister ensure that there will be annual or bi-annual removal of silt?
I will investigate the matter, and I am sure Deputy Naughten will discuss the matter with me.
(Interruptions.)
8.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will allocate funds to enable improvement works to be carried out to alleviate persistent flooding from the River Blackwater in Mallow and Fermoy, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, drainage works to relieve flooding in Mallow and Fermoy, caused by the Blackwater, could be undertaken only in the context of a comprehensive drainge scheme for the entire river catchment area. It is not possible at this stage to say when such a scheme might be reached.
I do not accept the Minister's reply. We have had this sort of answer over the last number of years. The Minister must be aware of the persistent flooding that takes place in those two towns——
A question.
——and of the hardship imposed on traders and business people. I disagree that it would take a comprehensive drainage programme to alleviate the problem. If there were more bridges it would overcome the problem. Will the Minister ask his Department to reinvestigate this? I am convinced that that would help both towns in the event of high floods.
I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for his suggestion. However, as the Deputy is probably aware, the Arterial Drainage Act does not cater for piecemeal drainage works for the relief of any particular area in a catchment. The Arterial Drainge Act involves the comprehensive drainage of an entire catchment. Local works of this kind would more likely be the responsibility of the local authority, in this case, Cork County Council.
I put down that question to the Minister for the Environment and the Ceann Comhairle's office transferred it to the Minister for Finance. I was aware——
I do not——
I was aware that we would have difficulties at Question Time because of this and the Minister has made——
The Deputy had better stop and listen for a minute. My office is not in the business of transferring questions.
It was the Ceann Comhairle's office that wrote to me.
I will take all the different questions.
Can the question be transferred to the Department of the Environment for answer?
The question would need to be redrafted in order to achieve that desirable result.