I now call on Deputy Ted Nealon to make his one minute statement and the Minister of State will reply.
Adjournment Debate. - Finance Matter.
Because of the excellent arterial drainage job being done by the Office of Public Works upstream in the Boyle catchment area, problems are being created downstream between Lough Gara and Lough Key. Regular widespread flooding occurs on the Sligo side and the Roscommon side. This is now routine after exceptional and even after average rainfall and it originates from the arterial drainage.
The source of the problem seems to be twofold. The first cause is the improved drainage, resulting in a quicker run-off from tributaries upstream from Lough Gara. The second cause is the siltation of the Boyle River which I have seen and examined. I appeal to the Minister of State to have this relatively minor work done to help the farmers along the banks and to remove an unfortunate side effect from an otherwise very well executed job of arterial drainage work.
Between 1951 and 1954 drainage works were carried out on parts of the River Boyle under the Land Reclamation Act, 1949. The effect of this work was to give marginal land and the lower reaches of the tributaries improved drainage and greater immunity from flooding.
The current scheme of works which is being done on the Boyle system will include maintenance works on the sections completed previously. These sections will also be included in future maintenance programmes when the Boyle catchment drainage scheme has been completed.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 28 February 1991.