asked the Minister for Lands whether he is aware of the serious erosion caused to the Ventry estate and the Blennerhassett estate and in particular to the lands of Mr. Thomas Heffernan, Folio No. 20667 and Mrs. Ellen Doyle, R.O. No. 513/4384 by the River Laune which flows through these estates; and, if so, whether he will ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out on the embankments at the earliest possible date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Repair of Kerry Embankments.
I understand that some slight erosion has been caused to the holdings in question due to the fact that the River Laune has been changing its course over the past 20 years. The Land Commission have no liability for the protection of the holdings and do not propose to take any action towards confining the river to its present course.
Is the Minister aware that, as a result of a large deposit of sand in the river, a number of farmers there have suffered very severe losses? Would the Minister consider making some grants available to protect these tenants? I suggest that this is a case-where the Land Commission could usefully engage machinery from the Board of Works to remove this sand deposit. That, I suggest, would help to remedy the position in so far as it would create a new channel for this river.
I understand that the general question of the drainage of the River Laune is on the programme of the Office of Public Works—the arterial drainage section—for attention. I cannot say, of course, when it may be reached. In the meantime, I should like to remind the Deputy that, while the Land Commission have no legal obligations in this case, they have on special occasions endeavoured to prevent damage to holdings. These works are extremely costly. They are not really part of the normal work of the Land Commission, but in very special cases, where damage has been done by storms and where it has been very severe, covering a wide territory, I have been able to get a special grant from the Minister for Finance to deal with the large areas concerned. In this particular case, there are two holdings, and I am advised that the cost of the remedial work would be altogether out of proportion to the advantage to be gained.