Vol. 414 No. 4
77 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details in connection with the arterial drainage of the Bonet River, of any claims which have been submitted to the Office of Public Works for damage done to fisheries; if any settlements have been reached in these cases; if so, the number of cases; and the total amount of the settlements made.
A total of four claims for compensation for damage to fisheries have been received by the Commissioners of Public Works, arising out of their works on the Bonet CDS. Three of these claims have been settled and negotiations are ongoing in respect of the fourth. As the settlements involved were comprehensive, including matters other than fisheries, it is not possible to give the amounts involved in respect of the fisheries aspects of the claims. In any event, these are considered confidential between the Commissioners and the claimants.
78 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the provisions within the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 for payment of compensation for loss or damage done to farm holdings as a result of interference by the Office of Public Works during the execution of the scheme works; and whether these provisions include payments of compensation for flooding damage caused by changes in the flow pattern of the river concerned.
The aim of arterial drainage is to effect an overall improvement in conditions in a catchment, by reducing the incidence of flooding or waterlogging. The provisions for the payment of compensation for any loss or damage arising as a result of the carrying out of arterial drainage schemes are contained in sections 14 to 17 and section 51 (2) of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, a copy of which is available in the Dáil Library. In the assessment of the amount of compensation payable regard is had to all relevant damages and benefits resulting from changes in the flow patterns of the rivers concerned.
