asked the Minister for Finance whether, as owing to the frequent flooding of the river Blackwater of the low-lying portions of the town of Fermoy during recent years, causing great loss of property and inflicting great hardship and loss on a large number of poor householders, he is prepared to order that a local inquiry be held, or to have a survey made of the river bed and waterway to the east of the town, as owing to the big rise at time of flood in the level of the river below the weir as compared with the level above it, it is evident some obstruction exists, and to this end all local knowledge would be available.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BLACKWATER FLOODS.
The floods complained of occur on a river which is not included in any existing drainage district, and there is, therefore, no power to carry out works of relief except by designing and carrying out a new scheme of arterial drainage. Under the existing law such a scheme can only be carried out on the initiative and at the expense of the owners of lands damaged by floods.
Arising out of that answer I would ask if the Minister is aware that the most serious complaints relate to the flooding of the low-lying portion of the town of Fermoy, a considerable portion of which is occupied by poor people?