asked the Minister for Finance if he will state what progress has been made in regard to the proposals for the drainage of the River Robe, Co. Mayo; and if he can state how soon he expects the actual drainage work to begin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Co. Mayo Drainage Scheme.
The Commissioners of Public Works have received petitions under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, from the Mayo County Council in respect of the drainage of the River Robe and tributaries. As portion of the district extends into County Galway, a petition from that county will also be required before the scheme can proceed. This petition has not yet been received by the Commissioners, although the necessity for it has been pointed out to interested parties.
In the meantime the Commissioners are having an engineering survey of the district made, and the field work is now nearing completion. A good deal of office work must subsequently be done before determining the necessary works and preparing a detailed estimate. It will then be necessary for a land valuer to inspect the district in order to ascertain exactly what lands will be improved, and to estimate the extent of the benefit. This examination will be tedious, involving the collection of a mass of detail, and cannot be commenced until the engineering basis of the scheme has been laid down. The drainage scheme when prepared must be exhibited locally for the votes of the affected occupiers, and probably a public inquiry held before the scheme can be confirmed and actual work begun. In the circumstances it does not appear likely that a start can be made this season.