Vol. 403 No. 5
53 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance when it is intended that some general work will be carried out on the Bonet river between Dromahair and Lough Gill, where conditions have deteriorated considerably arising out of the changed patterns of water flow because of the excellent work done in the arterial drainage of the other sections of the Bonet river.
The stretch of the River Bonet between Dromahair and Lough Gill was excluded from the Bonet catchment drainage scheme for practical and economic reasons. The channel immediately downstream of Dromahair has a very steep gradient levelling out as it nears the lake. In these lower reaches the channel is greatly influenced by lake levels which would to a large extent negate the effects of any drainage works. In addition the bed of the river is largely composed of rock which would render prohibitive the cost of any works which might be considered.
With regard to the suggestion that drainage upstream has changed the pattern of water flows, the Commissioners of Public Works have had a number of surveys of the area carried out during the course of scheme works and the results show that the drainage scheme has not caused any deterioration of the position. Any flooding which occurs is of shorter duration than existed pre-drainage and the commissioners are satisfied with the capacity of the river to cater for postdrainage flows. The commissioners will, of course, keep the position under review.
