asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious damage for a number of years past caused by flooding in the lands adjoining the Dunderry River at Tulloughanstown, Dunderry, Ongenstown and Rathmore, near Navan; and if he will state if immediate steps will be taken to prevent this periodic flooding by a grant for drainage or otherwise.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Meath Flooding.
The Commissioners of Public Works have, in recent years, received complaints from time to time regarding flooding on certain lands adjoining the Dunderry River. as part of the river referred to is a scheduled work in the final award for the Dunderry drainage district made by the commissioners on the 8th October, 1907, the responsibility for its maintenance is, under the provisions of the Drainage and Improvement of Lands Act (Ireland), 1863, a matter for the Dunderry Drainage Board. Section 2 of the Drainage Maintenance Act, 1924, empowers the commissioners to execute such works as they shall consider necessary for the effective repair of the drainage work of the district, and Section 4 (1) of that Act empowers the Minister for Finance to make a free grant towards the cost of such works. However, pending the findings of the Drainage Commission, which is reviewing the drainage problems of the country as a whole, no further works under this Act are being undertaken.