asked the Minister for Finance if he will now indicate when it is hoped to clean the Ilen river to obviate the danger of flooding in the town of Skibbereen.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cleaning of River Ilen.
It is not the function of the Commissioners of Public Works to carry out piecemeal works for the prevention of flooding in towns. The improvement of drainage conditions in the Ilen river could be undertaken by them only by way of a comprehensive scheme for the catchment area under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. There is no prospect of such a scheme being undertaken in the foreseeable future.
The nature of the work places it outside the scope of the minor schemes administered by the Special Employment Schemes Office.