asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what stage has been reached in regard to the proposals for the drainage of the River Robe, Co. Mayo, and whether he is now in a position to state when the work will be commenced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage of River Robe.
Petitions under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, were received by the Commissioners of Public Works from the Mayo County Council in respect of the main river Robe from Crossboyne upstream and of several tributaries. As a result of preliminary investigation it was considered desirable that the area in the existing Lough Mask and River Robe drainage district should be included in one combined scheme with the proposals already received. The Mayo County Council were informed on the 22nd November, 1928, that if the existing drainage district was to be included it would be necessary for petitions to be lodged both with that County Council and the Galway County Council. To date the petitions and accompanying documents as required by the Act have not been received by the Commissioners of Public Works. At present an engineer is in County Mayo making a survey of the areas in respect of which petitions have already been received. In the circumstances it is not possible to state whether or when work will be commenced in the district.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say if the necessary petition was received from the Mayo County Council; that is, the petition to which he refers in the latter portion of the reply?
Mr. Bourke
Not the second petition; and no petition at all was received from the Galway County Council. There are only about 100 acres involved in Galway, and it would be a good thing if some Deputy down there set the thing going by asking the riparian owners involved to send in a petition, as such a petition is required before the work can be started.
Mr. O'Connell
Am I to understand from the Parliamentary Secretary that the second petition has not been lodged by the Mayo County Council?
Mr. Bourke
It has not come to us at all events.