asked the Minister for Finance if he can state the present financial position of the Upper Inny Drainage Board, Togher, Westmeath, which has been in existence for over forty years; if he is aware that the secretary of the said board, Mr. T.M. Coghlan, Castlepollard, Westmeath, resigned in December last; that the board failed to appoint another secretary, and is now dissolved, with the result that the contractor to the board has not been paid for work done by him on the instructions of the said Drainage Board, and if he can state the methods adopted by such boards for the collection of money for drainage work in the districts.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UPPER INNY DRAINAGE BOARD.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
The Commissioners of Public Works have no information as to the financial position of the Upper Inny Drainage District. They are aware that Mr. Coghlan tendered his resignation as secretary to the Drainage Board, but they have no knowledge either that a successor was not appointed or that the board is now dissolved. There is, however, a statutory obligation on the members to continue in office until their places have been filled and to discharge the duties appertaining to that office, and they cannot by resignation relieve themselves from that obligation. The procedure for the assessment and collection of drainage maintenance rate is set out in Section 57 of the Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Act, 1863.
Will the Minister see that this Drainage Board performs its duties?
I could not be sure of that.