asked the Minister for Lands if he will state what progress has been made with the scheme to relieve landowners in County Offaly whose holdings and dwelling-houses in the Shannon valley are subject to flooding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Valley Flooding: Relief Scheme.
Mr. Egan
asked the Minister for Lands what progress has been made to relieve landowners in County Galway whose holdings, houses and out-offices in the Shannon basin are subject to periodic flooding.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together.
Following the Government decision to carry out a scheme for the relief of farmers in the flooded areas of the Shannon valley between Athlone and Meelick, the Land Commission had to re-examine the position on the ground. This re-examination has now been completed and the proposals arising therefrom are at present under consideration.
It is necessary that matters of title, etc., must be in order before expenditure on new buildings is incurred, as the beneficiaries will be required to repay part of the cost by way of cash and annuity. I expect that these matters will be resolved speedily.
The present projected scheme is twofold, viz.: the provision of (a) new buildings for those whose buildings were seriously flooded in 1954-55 and (b) dry stands for stock for those whose lands were inundated. In some cases, the land for building sites and stands for stock will have to be obtained through migration of farmers who will surrender land above the flood level. The selection of suitable migrants is proceeding but, of course, migration will be effected only to an extent sufficient to make the dry land necessitated by the scheme available.
The number of families involved in the scheme is 108, of whom 50 are in Roscommon, 33 in Westmeath, 17 in Galway and 8 in Offaly. The Land Commission proposals are being framed with due regard to the remedies available and to the needs of individual families in the flooded area as a whole.
Until the precise details of the scheme have been fully considered by the Land Commission and presented to the beneficiaries, I am unable to give further information.
Is the Minister in a position to make a forecast as to when the scheme will be available for general information ?
One would like to complete it in the current financial year, but I imagine that due to unforeseen difficulties that may arise, it may take possibly the better part of two years to complete.