asked the Minister for Lands when it is proposed to clean the drain that runs through the forestry at Clonmoyle, County Kildare, and goes out under the Rathangan-Monasterevan road, County Kildare down to the tunnel under the canal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Drain.
19.
Normal cleaning of the drain in question, as carried out periodically by the Forestry Division, is in progress at present.
The Forestry Division has been asked by local land-holders to join in a scheme for the improvement of the drainage in the area under the Land Rehabilitation Project Office of the Department of Agriculture. The Forestry Division has intimated to that Office that they will co-operate in the implementation of any works which that Office may approve. I should point out, however, that the drainage problem here raises difficulties of a technical nature which it may not be possible to resolve.
Is the Minister aware of the manner in which the cleaning is being carried out at present— whether it is by hand or by mechanical means?
I have not got that information here. It is the normal cleaning that goes on in the Forestry Division.
You had the canal supply lowered by about two feet some ten years ago and that is causing the flooding of those lands.
I am aware that there is flooding and that the local farmers are concerned about it, out but there are technical difficulties in relation to the outfall and a danger of the canal being undermined. I do not know that they will be able to get over those technical difficulties, but I can say that as far as my Department can co-operate with the farmers, they are prepared to do so.