asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether any objections were lodged to the proposed Brick and Cashen drainage scheme in North Kerry before the expiration of the statutory notice period ending on the 20th January, 1951, and whether the £20,000 voted by Dáil Éireann early last year under sub-head J (2) of the annual Estimates is being or will be spent before the end of the present financial year; and, further, whether he will now indicate when the scheme is likely to commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage Schemes.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state whether it is a fact that the drainage of the Brick and Cashen catchment area, about to be undertaken by the Office of Public Works, will result in a substantial increase in the rate on land in that area.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will state when it is proposed to commence drainage work on the Feale catchment area; further, if he will state whether the work in question will have the effect of increasing in any way the poor law valuation in the area.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 66, 67 and 68 together.
The poor law valuation of land is not affected by the execution of a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The entire construction cost of the scheme will be met from State funds. When the time comes for the county council to assume their statutory obligation of meeting the cost of maintenance of the completed works, some increase in poor rates may result, but, being a county-at-large charge, the maintenance cost will be distributed over the ratepayers of the entire county irrespective of whether they have or have not any land improved by the scheme.
The observations received by the Commissioners of Public Works on the scheme, as exhibited, contain some objections on matters of detail, but no objection to the scheme as a whole. It is unlikely that any more than a small amount of the current year's provision of £20,000 can be spent before the 31st March, 1951, but a substantial provision is being put forward to finance the work, which will start early in the coming summer.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say how much?
I do not want to forestall the Estimates, but it will more than please the Deputy.
When will the scheme commence?
Immediately.
asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of the necessity to drain the area of turbary from Ballyclave to Tullibeg which would facilitate 25 families in the neighbourhood and also the general public; and, if so, whether he will allocate a grant for the carrying through of the work.
My office has under consideration several individual proposals for drainage work in the turbary area referred to, and if the Deputy will supply particulars to enable the work he has in mind to be identified, I shall have inquiries made.