asked the Minister for Finance whether he can now state when the drainage work will be started on the Barrow River in the Portarlington-Mountmellick district.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BARROW DRAINAGE.
Mr. BOURKE
The gang which has been working up the Upper Barrow from Monasterevan on the work of removing trees from the banks and bed of the river has now reached Portarlington, and will proceed upwards towards Mountmellick.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary inform me what is the size of the gang he intends putting to work in that area? I would call his attention to the large number of unemployed men at Portarlington, Garryhinch, and Mountmellick; and it is my opinion that this part of the year is particularly suitable for getting these men employed on useful work there; as from July onwards, if the weather happens to break, that part of the river is continually in flood. Taking into consideration the large number of men available for work there, will the Parliamentary Secretary have the work speeded up?
Mr. BOURKE
These are matters to be taken into consideration by the engineer on the works. These are not matters that we can usefully discuss here.