asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that farmers who live in Lough Carra catchment area are very dissatisfied with the decision of the Office of Public Works not to place a sluice at Keel West and suggest that the Office of Public Works have spent many thousands of pounds on this area, which will be of no benefit to farmers and state that an undertaking given to them in relation to this matter has been ignored; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Drainage.
10.
An extensive hydrological study undertaken by the Office of Public Works before drainage works commenced in this area established that, effectively, the high flood levels in Lough Carra were controlled, not by the weir at Keel, but by severe channel obstructions in the Keel River immediately downstream of Keel Bridge. This study also revealed that the installation of a sluice at the weir, as originally proposed, would provide little, if any, extra flood relief and could not therefore be justified.
Extensive works including the removal of the obstructions, have now been carried out on the Keel River which will have the effect of substantially reducing both the level and duration of flooding in the area.
Would the Minister accept that the farming community in the area are not at all satisfied that a worthwhile job has been done and that they still have to tolerate a great deal of flooding despite the amount of money which has been spent on works in the area by the Office of Public Works?
The works were finally completed only last month. Therefore, it is a bit early to be drawing any conclusions as to whether they are adequate or not. Obviously, the Office of Public Works have satisfied themselves on the basis of the scientific advice available to them from their own experts that the work done is adequate for the purpose.
Would the Minister accept that the information I have from the farmers is one of complete dissatisfaction despite all the money which has been spent there? They feel it will be of no use whatsoever to the draining of the land in that area.
First of all, as I said, the work has only been completed. Secondly, this is not a typical year. The level of the water table is considerably higher this year than it would be in a normal year taking the average of between 10 to 20 years into account. It would be far wiser from the point of view of care for public money at least to wait for a year or two before drawing the conclusions that Deputy Gallagher is seeking to get me to draw on this occasion.