asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that, some years ago, the county surveyor for Longford submitted plans to the Office of Public Works and to the Department of Local Government for the deepening, widening and dredging of the Rivers Camlin, Fallen and Ballyminion; that the surveyor's report described these rivers as being closed by sand banks, trees and slipped sides and incapable of receiving and carrying even surface water and also stated that they were a public menace; if he is now prepared to adopt these plans and have the work executed during the spring and early summer, especially having regard to the fact that there are sufficient men in the district to carry out these works which have a high labour content, would relieve unemployment, and alleviate the plight of the farmers in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Longford Rivers.
asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious losses sustained by farmers in the County Longford by the flooding of the Camlin, Fallen and Ballyminion and other rivers in that area; if he is prepared to have a survey made of the said losses; and if he proposes to pay compensation to these farmers for their heavy losses.
I propose, with the consent of An Ceann Comhairle, to take questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
I am aware that farmers in County Longford, in common with others throughout the country, have suffered losses as a result of the abnormal flooding which occurred last year. I have not received any details of these losses, and, in any event, there are no funds at my disposal out of which compensation could be paid to the persons affected.
The rivers mentioned by the Deputy are included in the Longford and Keenagh drainage districts which, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, the County Council of Longford is empowered to maintain. While the question of carrying out a comprehensive drainage scheme under that Act for the Longford catchment area, as a whole, will be considered in due course, I cannot say at this stage when the area is likely to be reached in the course of the drainage programme.
The Minister has not answered the specific question I put to him — if he is aware that, some years ago, the county surveyor of Longford submitted plans to the Office of Public Works in connection with this matter?
I am not in a position to answer that question. If the Deputy desires an answer to it, perhaps he would put down a further question.
I respectfully submit that I put down this specific question and that I have asked it. The question has been in the possession of the Minister for Finance since last November. To tell me to put down the question again is not quite orthodox. Would the Minister reply to that question? Arising out of the Minister's silence——
It would be difficult to frame a supplementary question on a Minister's silence.
I take the Minister's silence as a reply. Is the Minister aware that this plan was drawn up by a competent engineer and submitted to the Office of Public Works and that the drainage of the Longford catchment area can be undertaken immediately if that plan be adopted? I respectfully wish to ask the Minister if he rejects that plan as not suitable for consideration.
That is a different question.
Would the Minister say what would be the "early date" to which he refers in his reply?
I did not mention an "early date".
Well, the Minister mentioned the "near future" or some such phrase.