asked the Minister for Finance whether his attention has been drawn to the recent flooding which has taken place in the Ballinaglera district of County Leitrim whereby 40 or 50 families have lost their crops and hay, and the lands have been covered with mud and stone from the mountain rivers; and whether it is proposed to take all such steps as may be necessary by grants or otherwise to help these poor people to tide over their loss and relieve the prevailing distress.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LOSSES BY FLOODING IN BALLINAGLERA, LEITRIM.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that flooding has taken place in the Stony and Yellow Rivers, Stradrinan, County Leitrim, whereby considerable damage has been done to lands, crops and houses; and whether it will be possible to allocate a grant for the purpose of removing the obstructions in the beds of these rivers.
Mr. BOURKE
I propose to answer Questions 7 and 8 together. The flooding referred to in both questions is caused by the Stony and the Yellow Rivers. Neither of these rivers is in an existing drainage district and the Commissioners of Public Works have not received a petition under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, in respect of either of them; consequently no action can be taken by the Commissioners for the improvement of the drainage conditions in this area. Grants for the relief of distress are not administered by the Commissioners of Public Works.
Is it not the duty of the Local Government Department to relieve distress of this nature?
Mr. BOURKE
That does not concern my Department.