asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of land reclamation schemes in County Meath which are held up because of disputes between his Department and Meath County Council over consequential damage; and what steps are being taken to remedy the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Land Reclamation.
15.
Investigation of sixteen applications for Land Project schemes is held up because the agreement of the Meath County Council to the carrying out of necessary work on bridges or culverts has not been forthcoming. My Department has been in correspondence with the Meath County Council in the matter for some time past, and the latest communication from the Council, dated 10th December, 1962, is being considered.
Would the Minister not agree that this dispute hinges on the request by his Department that the Meath County Council should accept responsibility for consequential damage which might be caused after a job has been done by the Meath County Council as agents of his Department?
I would not. There is scarcely any purpose in our attempting here at Question Time to apportion any blame as between the Department and the Meath County Council. From what I can see, there appeared to be a willingness on the part of both parties to settle this, but, when they came to put that verbal agreement into words, it seemingly was not such an easy matter. However, I am hopeful that as a result of a further letter we received from the council we will be able to reach agreement shortly.
16.
asked the Minister for Agriculture why the land reclamation drainage scheme for Kilcarty-Branganstown-Boycetown, County Meath, which has been under consideration for over two years, has not yet been sanctioned.
Because the agreement of the Meath County Council to carry out necessary work on a bridge concerned in the scheme has not been forthcoming.
Will the Minister not agree that, in view of the fact that this dispute has been dragging along for several years, it is rather unreasonable that farmers who want to have their lands drained should have to wait until someone in the Department or the Meath County Council eventually comes to terms? Would the Minister not take steps to ensure that agreement is reached without any further delay? I think he will agree that is a reasonable request.
As far as my knowledge goes, and I think I am pretty well informed, we have not at any time attempted to transfer any burden that might arise as a result of works of this nature, carried out on our behalf by the council. As I said, when it comes down to getting verbal understandings and agreements into legal shape, it is not an easy matter. The Deputy can rest assured that I will try to have finality reached as soon as possible.
Is the Minister not aware that this whole situation arose because of the fact that his Department did a job at Stameen, Drogheda, and tried to blame the county council, or put responsibility on the county council, for a job done by them as agents of the Minister's Department and, in fact, notified the person aggrieved that they had nothing to do with the matter and that it was one for the Meath County Council?
That is not my information. Anyhow I do not think this arises properly here. When agreement is being sought as between a local authority and the Department, it is better that we should not at this stage attempt to apportion blame.
If the Minister says it will not take another three years, I will agree with him. Three years is too long.