Vol. 399 No. 8
100 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if a decison has been taken to do work on the River Boyle from Lough Gara to the Shannon in counties Sligo and Roscommon, to avoid repetition of recent floods; if so, the specific works which will be carried out; if specifications for the works have been drawn up; if so, if he will give details of same; when the work will start; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
101 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that because of the arterial drainage scheme up river, in progress now for nine years, the River Boyle, from Lough Gara to the Shannon in counties Sligo and Roscommon has badly silted up with the result that severe flooding now hits the area on a regular basis, causing widespread damage; that the local farmers have suffered considerable losses as a result of the flooding; that severe flooding is now inevitable following average and exceptional rainfall; and if he will give an assurance that the Office of Public Works takes immediate remedial action.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together.
Some years ago, a scheme of major improvement works, designed to accommodate the run-off following the drainage, at some future date, of the remainder of the Boyle Catchment was carried out by the Office of Public Works to the main channel of the Boyle River from Lough Gara to Lough Key. This scheme entailed the removal of a rock shoal at Tinnecarra, County Roscommon, deepening and widening works up to Lough Gara and general improvement of the river down to Lough Key. These works will be maintained under the Boyle Catchment Drainage scheme currently in progress.
