Vol. 413 No. 6
75 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, arising out of the arterial drainage on the River Bonet, severe flooding is being caused to the Killerry area on the Sligo-Leitrim Border; and if, he will make provision for the drainage of the Killerry River in order to alleviate the situation.
76 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the excellent arterial drainage work done on the River Bonet, County Leitrim from Dromahair up to Glenfarne is now resulting in major flooding from Dromahair down to Lough Gill, mainly in the Killerry area; that this flooding is caused by the much quicker flow of water from the upper reaches of the river arising from the improved drainage; that the river from Dromahair to Lough Gill has not been drained or improved in any way; and if, because of the severe hardship this is causing to farmers whose lands are being flooded as a direct result of this work he will make provision for (1) the cutting of trees and bushes blocking the free flow of water in the River Bonet from Dromahair to Lough Gill and (2) for the cleaning up and removal of blockages in this part of the river.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. 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 (the Lower Bonet) has a very steep gradient levelling out as it nears the lake. These lower reaches of the channel comprising two-thirds of its length are greatly influenced by lake levels which would to a large extent negate the effects of any drainage works. Drainage work upstream of Dromahair has had a negligible effect on water levels in the lake. 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 of these show that the drainage scheme has not caused any deterioration of the position. Any flooding which occurs is of shorter duration through marginally more extensive than existed pre-drainage and the commissioners are satisfied with the capacity of the river to cater for post-drainage flows. The commissioners will, of course keep the position under review.
