asked the Minister for Finance the steps taken by the Boyne drainage section of the Office of Public Works to compensate householders and farmers whose water supply has been interfered with by their work on the Kells/Blackwater River, County Meath.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Boyne Drainage .
38.
: It is presumed the Deputy is referring particularly to loss of water to wells in Kilmainham village. Proposals thereon will be presented shortly to the secretaty/organiser of the residents. Otherwise claims from individual landowners will be considered on their merits.
: Does the Minister not agree that it seems a bit ridiculous after all the experience the Office of Public Works have in arterial drainage that they should not take some action before the drainage takes place to try to ensure that people who have spent a lot of State money to provide themselves with water supplies should be left without any water supply? Surely it is ridiculous to suggest that they should now sink further wells and that the Board of Works might give them a grant at a later stage knowing well that those people have not got the money to sink the wells and are still paying off the debt for the first well which they sank.
: We pay all costs for the deepening of wells where a water supply has disappeared and we also provide a pump if the pump is not adequate. In this particular case we will contribute to group schemes where the supply has been interfered with through our drainage works.
: Would the Minister be able to give the House any idea when this type of work is likely to be started because the drainage was done quite some time ago and people are without water, including farmers who were watering their stock?
Will the Minister be able to tell us when the Board of Works will start a scheme to alleviate this problem?
: I assure the Deputy that I will get my Department to have the work carried out as soon as possible, that is, sinking of the wells and provision of water by way of group scheme.
: Will the Minister let me have a copy of what they propose to do?
: I have not got it in my brief but we will carry out the works as soon as possible in cases where a water supply has disappeared.
: Can the Minister let me have a copy of what they propose to do, a copy of the letter which will be sent to the secretary of the resident's association? Will I have to put down another question?
: I said at the beginning that I would be communicating with the secretary of the association.
: Will the Minister communicate with me or is the secretary of the association superior to a Member of this House?
: Would the Minister kindly answer the next question?