asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the serious flooding to farms from the Ouvane River from Cappabue to Kealkill, County Cork; and if there are any proposals in his Department to have this river cleared.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Flooding.
63.
A drainage scheme for the portion of the Ouvane River below Kealkill was carried out in 1963. When the scheme was being prepared the inclusion of the area upstream of Kealkill was investigated but it was found that the cost of the drainage works would have been excessive in relation to the benefits they would bring. It is not proposed now to do any work in this uneconomic area.
May I ask the parliamentary Secretary if he has a full report on the flooding of this river before him and if he is aware that on numerous occasions during the year children attending the local national school are prevented from attending because of the flooding? If he will make inquiries he will find that this is so. This is a problem in County Cork which has been completely ignored by his predecessor — the flooding of agricultural land in many areas.
We cannot have a speech on this.
As the Parliamentary Secretary has no such problem in his constituency, could he give priority to County Cork in this matter?
This is a small mountainous catchment of 18,500 acres with what is called a very flashy run off. Four hundred acres were drained and this cost £130 an acre, which is very expensive. In the area referred to by the Deputy the damaged lands are mostly narrow strips along the river which has a steep fall of 50 feet per mile and many bad bends. Drainage works would be very costly and out of all proportion to the benefits that would accrue from them.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary do what I have requested him to do — give consideration to other parts of the county that have been neglected?
I shall give consideration to every part of the country.