asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the North Tipperary County Council approved two years ago of nineteen new drainage schemes, and passed them on for further examination by the Office of Works; how many (if any) of these schemes have been put into operation; when it is proposed to take the necessary steps to have the Nenagh, Annameadle, and Clodiah Rivers, all in North Tipperary, drained; whether he is aware that these rivers constantly flood several thousand acres of land, and that a number of cattle, the property of farmers living near these rivers, were lost in the recent floods; that in order to prevent further losses of stock, these farmers were compelled to wire and fence off a portion of their land for which they had to pay rent and rates; and whether, in the light of these facts, the Minister will take steps to expedite action in this matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TIPPERARY DRAINAGE SCHEMES.
Mr. J.J. HASSETT
Mr. BOURKE
The Commissioners of Public Works have received petitions under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, from the Tipperary North Riding County Council in respect of 14 schemes. Owing to the large number of petitions throughout the Saorstát that have been lodged and the lengthy surveys and detailed valuations necessary under the Act, the stage has not yet been reached when any of the North Tipperary schemes could be submitted to the owners of lands likely to be benefited for their final decision as to whether or not the schemes should be put into operation. It has not consequently been possible so far to put any of the schemes in North Tipperary into operation.
The Commissioners have their engineers' and valuers' reports on the Nenagh River under consideration, but on the information at present available the scheme appears to be quite uneconomic. Early inspections of the Annameadle or Gurtagarry River and the Clodiah or Commogue River have been arranged for.