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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Dec 1947

Vol. 109 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers' Losses by Flooding.

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious flooding of farms on the borders of Leitrim and Fermanagh by the overflowing of the rivers there; if he is aware of the serious losses sustained by farmers in County Leitrim from this cause; and if he is prepared to enter into negotiations with the Government of Northern Ireland to have an effective drainage scheme carried out between the two counties.

The arterial drainage problem in the Leitrim border area is not so serious as in other parts of the country; consequently it will be a considerable time before any of the rivers in that area will be dealt with. It would be premature to consider at this stage the negotiations referred to in the latter part of the question.

Is it only when flooding becomes extremely serious that any remedies are taken?

asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious losses sustained by farmers in County Longford owing to the flooding of their lands by the overflowing of the river Camlin; and if he proposes to take immediate steps to have the river widened and the artificial barrier removed to obviate the causes of flooding.

I am aware that lands in the vicinity of the Camlin River are subject to flooding. I cannot say when this area may be reached in the course of the arterial drainage programme.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there is serious flooding of the lands around the town of Longford which is a menace to public health and a matter of which the Minister for Health would do well to take note? Water Street in particular has been severely flooded twice this year with grave results. There is a scheme already in existence. Will the Parliamentary Secretary adopt that scheme for the drainage of this river?

The local county council are responsible for the maintenance of the drainage in that particular area. During the year 1945-46 no money was expended upon it. Last year a sum of £289 was expended and a further sum of £300 has been provided this year.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the sums he has referred to barely removed the branches overhanging the river and really had no effect on the drainage whatever? The sum of £500 would not remove a gallon of water out of the Camlin.

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