asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that serious flooding, causing enormous damage to crops, occurs in the Cross River area near Athlone; and if he will take immediate steps to have the work of draining this district proceeded with.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding near Athlone.
Mr. Bourke
The Commissioners of Public Works are preparing a detailed drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1925, for submission to the votes of the occupiers of affected lands on the Cross River. It is hoped to exhibit the scheme shortly, but even if the occupiers accept the scheme, a considerable time must elapse before actual drainage works could be commenced.
Mr. Boland
I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary why it is that a considerable time must elapse before the actual drainage works will commence? This is an urgent matter and I want to tell him there is considerable flooding there every year. In the present year the people in that area had to sow their crops twice at considerable loss. In this district there was a thriving potato seed industry and surely the farmers will not be asked to wait the convenience of the staff of the Board of Works. It is not good enough to tell the people that they must wait for perhaps five or six years in view of the calamitous flooding occurring there from year to year.
Mr. Bourke
Certain precedure has to be gone through. I am not saying five or six years will elapse. Probably we cannot start until next Spring. If we cannot begin early in the year it is uneconomic to start at all. There are bound to be certain objections even though the majority may agree to the scheme and we must inquire into these objections.
I would like an assurance from the Parliamentary Secretary that there will be no time lost. The flooding there is very serious.
Mr. Bourke
There will be no time lost, I can assure the Deputy of that.