Vol. 192 No. 2
asked the Minister for Finance what proposals have been made to his Department for the drainage of the Rivers Mulcair, Groody, The Creek, and Maigue; if he is aware of the losses sustained by farmers and others as a result of severe flooding by these rivers for some time past; and, if so, if he will now state what action he proposes to take in this matter.
61.
asked the Minister for Finance what the present position is in regard to applications for drainage of rivers in County Limerick; and what action he proposes to take with regard to the recent breaches in the Shannon whereby thousands of acres of land have been severely flooded.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 60 and 61 together.
The Groody and the Creek or Ballynaclogh rivers will be considered by the Commissioners of Public Works for improvement as intermediate rivers under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945.
The Commissioners have completed an engineering survey of the Deel catchment and the design of works with a view to a scheme under the Act is in hands.
A survey of the Maigue is in progress. The Commissioners hope to be able to commence works on the embankments on the outfall section in a year or so.
It is proposed to have the survey of the Mulkear catchment commenced in 1963.
As I have already announced, the Commissioners have commenced a survey of the embankments in the Shannon Estuary downstream of Limerick with a view to carrying out works to put the embankments into proper repair. The intention is to deal with them in sections under Part IV of the Act. A start is being made with the Coonagh area on the north bank near Limerick, and it is expected that work can be commenced early next spring. The areas on the south bank between Limerick and the Maigue, including the Ballynaclogh River, would then be tackled and work on the entire embankment system should be finished in about three years. The embankments would be designed to withstand the highest known tides, and would be maintained in effective condition by the Office of Public Works.
