Vol. 171 No. 16
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) on what date it was discovered that boring for water on the lands of Mr. Maurice Boland, Bishoplane, Ballymore-Eustace, County Kildare, would not provide a supply of water for cattle on his holding, (b) on what date the work on boring the wells ceased, and (c) what steps have since been taken to provide an alternative supply.
27.
asked the Minister for Lands when the Land Commission estimate that they will be in a position to provide a satisfactory water supply for cattle on the lands of Mr. Maurice Boland, Bishoplane, Ballymore-Eustace, County Kildare, in accordance with their agreement with Mr. Boland.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
Boring was completed in August, 1955, and then gave a plentiful supply of clear water. In February, 1956, the allottee complained that the water supply had become unsatisfactory. Remedial measures were undertaken during that year and resulted in a limited supply of clear water being available from the bore. At the allottee's request, a power-pump was loaned to him to facilitate its extraction.
In an effort to increase the supply of clear water, further work was subsequently proposed but on 13th June, 1957, with machinery standing by, the allottee was unco-operative and the machinery had to be redirected elsewhere.
Owing to exceptional geological conditions, well-drilling in this neighbourhood is particularly difficult. Technical investigation in an effort to find a satisfactory solution is continuing.
It is not yet possible to say what further action may be feasible but the matter is being expedited.
Could the Minister give this unfortunate man even some approximate idea as to when he will be given an adequate water supply, which he was promised in the first instance, especially bearing in mind the fact that the land is surrounded by lakes and that the Land Commission have easy access to the lakes if they will expedite their negotiations?
The negotiations are being expedited to see what can be done. In the meantime the allottee is sharing a supply made available by the E.S.B. for his domestic water supply.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that the only supply available to this man is, in fact, sludge water which is not adequate for his cattle, that he was promised a definite supply of usable water, that he has not got that, and that the least the Land Commission ought to do after three years and eight months effort is to give the man a reasonable supply of water?
Is the Minister aware that a very slight rearrangement was offered to the Land Commission in this matter, which would have provided the man with a water supply but the Land Commission refused to do it?
Of course.
Assuming that that was the case, it would only apply to water for cattle, not to the domestic supply, so the question would not have been solved by redistribution of the land.
Would the Minister put one official of the Land Commission on to this matter to try to bring the proceedings to a definite conclusion?
It was all botched from the beginning to the end.
