As successor to the Irish Land Commission, my Department does not have responsibility for the maintenance, repair or restoration of river banks, embankments or other works to prevent flooding. While responsibility for such works normally rests with the property owner, the Irish Land Commission retained a portion of the purchase money due to former owners of certain estates acquired by the State for the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of embankments on them. The retained funds were entrusted to the public trustee who is now an officer of my Department. The public trustee has responsibility for the investment of these funds and the income earned may be applied for the specific purposes described in the trust deed for each estate.
If the lands in question are located in an area subject to a trust fund, the persons concerned should contact the public trustee at my Department's Cavan office. In certain circumstances, assistance may be available from the county council or the Office of Public Works.