asked the Minister for Finance whether applications for grants have been received from residents in South Leitrim for drainage purposes on the Rinn and Blackwater rivers, and also the Eslin river in that county, and, if so, if he will state what amount of money it is proposed to allot for the purpose.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - DRAINAGE IN LEITRIM.
The Commissioners of Public Works received petitions from occupiers of land in the area through the Leitrim and Longford County Councils for the carrying out of a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, in respect of the Rinn River. The Councils were informed by the Commissioners on the 28th April, 1926, that the circumstances were not such as to justify the formation of a separate drainage district, as the scheme put forward omitted the Black River which forms an important part of the existing Rinn and Black River drainage district. It was further pointed out that the proposed scheme did not deal with the outfall into Lough Forbes. At the same time, the Councils were informed that if a proposal to convert the entire existing district into a new drainage district under the Act of 1925, to include also the improvement of the outfall into Lough Forbes were put forward the Commissioners would consider it. The Longford County Council at a special meeting in 1926 had the matter under consideration and passed a resolution that they were not in favour of proceeding on the lines suggested whilst nothing further has been heard on the subject from the Leitrim County Council. No petition for a new scheme under the Act of 1925 has so far been received in respect of the Eslin River. There is an existing Eslin Drainage District and the Commissioners had it inspected by an engineer with a view to restoration under the Drainage Maintenance Act, 1924. It was found, however, that even with the customary Government Grant the charge payable by the owners would be prohibitive and the trustees were informed to this effect on 1st March, 1926.