asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works will clean the river up to the Cloran lakes near Athboy, County Meath as over 100 acres of land need draining; if he is aware that if the river is not cleaned now it will never be possible for the seven land-owners concerned to do it as they have been informed that such work would possibly pollute the Athboy water supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Meath Drainage.
17.
Mr. Kenny
The question of having works under the Boyne scheme extended as far as the Cloran Lakes was examined in detail some time ago and it was found that it would not be an economic proposition. It is not proposed, therefore, to include this work in the scheme.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the lands of these farmers are wet and need draining? The farms are infected by liver fluke and hoose. There are dangerous drains on them.
Mr. Kenny
The matter was examined in particular detail because of the Deputy's former representations. The average benefit per acre would be 33p against £1.17p overall. If this work was carried out the amount of good land that would be ruined would not compensate the farmers for the amount of bad land that would be drained.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that an engineer from the Office of Public Works told those small farmers that when the river is cleaned up the Athboy water supply will be taken from it and the farmers will not be allowed to clean the rest of the river up to Cloran Lakes in case the water supply would be polluted at Athboy?
Please Deputy, we must go to Question No. 18.
Mr. Kenny
The point raised by the Deputy in regard to the pollution of the Athboy water supply was at no stage adverted to in the consideration of the application, but if there is substance in it it would seem to be an added factor against extending the scheme as far as the lakes.