asked the Minister for Finance whether his attention has been drawn to the very acute distress that prevails amongst one hundred and six congests in the townlands of Borraderra and Old Grange, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare, owing to the loss of their oats and potato crops by the flooding of their lands caused by the choked-up condition of two tributaries of the Figele or Black River, and whether he will send an Inspector to enquire into and report on the conditions of living of those congests with a view to making a grant for the drainage of this area, which work would also give employment to those people.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DISTRESS IN KILDARE.
The River Figele is a tributary of the Barrow, and is one of the streams proposed to be dealt with under the Barrow drainage scheme. That scheme will relieve the lands referred to from flooding.
It would be inadvisable to attempt to deal with this river apart from the main Barrow scheme.
Can the Minister say when he will start the Barrow drainage scheme, so as to bring relief to these poor people?
Get an election on in Kildare.
I hope the work will, as I have already stated, start this summer. The necessary legislation is with the draftsman at the moment. I do not know exactly what amount of work will be done this year.
Will the Minister say when he expects the work of the draughtsman will be finished?
I cannot say.