Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 11 Feb 1960

Vol. 179 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drainage of River Suck: Plans to Ease Shannon Flooding.

18.

Mr. McQuillan

asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement concerning the River Suck catchment area indicating (a) whether a comprehensive scheme for the drainage of this area has been completed, (b) if it is planned as part of the scheme to alter the course of the river by diverting it into the Shannon above Athlone, and (c) whether a drainage scheme on the Suck is likely to increase the danger of further flooding in the Shannon valley; and if he can state precisely when work will commence.

19.

Mr. McQuillan

asked the Minister for Finance whether any plans have been finally formulated to ease the flooding of the River Shannon; and, if so, if he will state their nature; and when they are likely to be put into effect.

Mr. J. Brennan

I propose with permission to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.

The preliminary investigations recommended in the Rydell Report on the Shannon problem are in hands, but the engineer's report in the matter will not be available before the end of the year. Some time will then be required for study and consideration of the report. These preliminary investigations include examination of suggestions for possible diversions of the River Suck, and, accordingly, the question of a drainage scheme for the Suck catchment must await consideration of the report.

Mr. McQuillan

In connection with the first question, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his predecessors, Deputy Donnellan and the late Deputy Beegan specifically guaranteed that the river Suck would be next on the arterial drainage list after the Corrib? Will the Parliamentary Secretary say now that order of priority has been altered?

Mr. J. Brennan

So far as I am aware, the Suck was never on the priority list in that order and furthermore, as the Deputy must know, the Rydell report on Shannon flooding specifically recommended that separate drainage of the Suck would aggravate the Shannon flooding. It did not recommend that it should be undertaken before the Shannon drainage would be put in hand.

Mr. McQuillan

May we take it from that reply that the advice and recommendations of the Board of Works engineers for the past 30 years, that the drainage of the Suck would not affect the Shannon flooding and could be undertaken as a separate scheme, were incorrect?

Mr. J. Brennan

I am not aware that the engineers or the advisers of the Office of Public Works ever gave such advice.

Mr. McQuillan

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, in view of the fact that on the 2nd May, 1957, the Government directed the Board of Works to carry out a survey of the recommendations made by Mr. Rydell and as that is almost three years ago now, will the Parliamentary Secretary say when the people of the Shannon flooding area are likely to have some scheme carried out that will alleviate the conditions from which they have suffered over the last 40 years and that we hope will be brought to an end maybe within the next 40 years?

Mr. J. Brennan

I would not be able to give any specific time as to when this can be done but, as the Deputy knows, the survey referred to is in progress at the moment and is expected to be finished by the end of this year. Pending a decision on that I cannot give any information as to what may happen.

Mr. McQuillan

Is this question of Shannon flooding being treated as an urgent matter or is it being put on the long finger?

Mr. J. Brennan

The question of the Shannon flooding, as is perfectly well known to every Deputy, is a major problem and one for which nobody so far has been able to offer any real solution. Until the preliminary survey is carried out nobody can make any suggestions as to what might be a feasible scheme.

Mr. McQuillan

A recommendation was made by Mr. Rydell.

(Interruptions.)

Mr. J. Brennan

And Mr. Rydell's recommendations were that he could find no solution that he could really stand over.