I ask the Minister to give us a brief overview of the Bill.
Arterial Drainage (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1995: Committee Stage.
The main statutory provision for the execution of drainage in the State is the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, which provides that when the Commissioners of Public Works are of the opinion that the execution of arterial drainage works is expedient in respect of any catchment area for the purpose of preventing or substantially reducing the periodical flooding of lands in that area, it shall be lawful for the commissioners to prepare a scheme for the execution of such works. There are many other provisions in the Act relating, for instance, to the payment of compensation to those adversely affected by the works and the maintenance of completed schemes.
There are also regulatory provisions relating to the construction of weirs, bridges or other structures on rivers and to fines and penalties for those in breach of the regulations. This Bill seeks to amend and extend the powers of the Office of Public Works in executing of works by permitting it to execute localised flood relief schemes. It also aims at tightening up some of the other provisions in the Act which have proved less than satisfactory in the past.
Section 1 agreed to.