asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in view of recent statements to the effect that drainage programmes on a large scale will be put in operation after 1st June, 1948, what procedure will be followed to decide the drainage schemes to be undertaken; and whether priority will be given to drainage schemes in the neighbourhood of bogs on which hand-won turf production has been terminated; furthermore, whether he will state if it is necessary that landowners adjoining rivers causing flooding should forward applications to his Department to have drainage carried out; whether such applications will be examined and decided after inspection in each case, and if applicants will be notified in each case when sanction is granted, and given the approximate date on which work will commence, or informed of the reasons in cases of rejection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage Schemes.
asked the Minister for Finance whether it is proposed to start drainage schemes in County Galway at an early date; and, if so, whether he will state what schemes will get priority.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
In so far as drainage works in the vicinity of bogs on which hand-won turf production has ceased are concerned, I would refer the Deputies to the statement issued last evening which indicated that financial assistance will be afforded to local authorities to carry out a special programme of maintenance work on existing drainage districts additional to that provided for in their current estimates.
Consideration will also be given to proposals for drainage works of a minor kind suitable for providing employment in the turf areas in question.
In regard to arterial drainage, the powers of the Commissioners of Public Works to carry out drainage works are derived from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, which prescribes, inter alia, the procedure to be followed in respect of the initiation, preparation and exhibition of drainage schemes and the several stages preliminary to confirmation of the schemes and the commencement of the works. In pursuance of that Act, certain catchment areas have been surveyed with a view to the preparation of comprehensive drainage schemes for the entire catchments and it is expected that works on the first of these schemes to be confirmed under the Act, namely, the Brosna, will commence in June, 1948. The Act of 1945 does not provide, as did the previous drainage codes, for the initiation of schemes by persons whose lands are affected by flooding.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary tell me if the Board of Works have an idea as to when they may be able to start drainage in County Galway?
Arising out of the Parlimentary Secretary's reply and his reference to the Government statement issued yesterday, I would ask why the two counties mentioned therein were selected for the particular purpose and also what action will be taken by the Department in regard to Kerry, where there is no county council at present, where there is a commissioner acting as a county council. The statement issued by the Government yesterday specifically indicated that local authorities would receive instructions and would be the nucleus of a machinery to undertake that work in the various counties.
The Deputy might put down a question in regard to that matter. The question as regards county councils that have been dissolved is not a matter for me but for another Department, and I consider that it is a separate question. With regard to Deputy Killilea's question, I am sure he is well aware that the Arterial Drainage Act deals with priorities.
The Parliamentary Secretary stated in the course of his reply that a scheme of drainage on the Brosna was likely to commence in June of this year. In view of the fact that there is a number of rivers called the Brosna, could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate that the Brosna referred to is the Brosna in County Offaly, in my constituency?
The Parliamentary Secretary has indicated that it is proposed to undertake extensive schemes of drainage. Would he say what additional sum of public money will be required to carry out those schemes and whether that public money is to be provided out of taxation or otherwise?
I would be delighted if the Deputy would put down a question on that.
I put down a question and I would like to get an answer. I asked the Parliamentary Secretary if he could give an indication as to when it is proposed to start drainage in County Galway. I have been listening to statements made recently and people want to know when the schemes are going to be started and where and how.
Before 16 years, at any rate.
That is not the question I am asking. I will put it another way: Is there any hope of drainage schemes being started in County Galway within the next 18 months or two years?
Some schemes will probably start before two months.
The only scheme which the Parliamentary Secretary has been able to state would begin this year is going to begin in June, 1948. Normal turf-cutting begins in the middle of March. Will the Deputy say how those employed on turf-cutting during 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947 are going to be compensated for the loss sustained by the cessation of hand-won turf-cutting schemes over the next three months?
I am more than surprised that the ex-Minister did not read these two questions. They are quite separate. One of them deals with arterial drainage schemes and the other deals with bogs. I can assure the ex-Minister that the people who at the moment claim to be unemployed on account of cessation of bog work will, by the middle of May at least, be employed on work more productive to the country and that they will receive just as good pay.
The Parliamentary Secretary has indicated that the only scheme which it is proposed to implement this year is the Brosna scheme.
No.
That is the only one he has mentioned. Is he aware that a Government decision was taken last year to commence that scheme?
Not at all.
It was announced.